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See p. 290 . 

ONE COULD HARDLY SEE TEN PACES IN ADVANCE. 



BOY SCOUTS 
IN A LUMBER CAMP 


^ By ' 

JAMES OTIS 

AUTHOR OF “toby TYLER,” “ THE WIRELESS STATION 
AT SILVER FOX FARM,” ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED BY COPELAND 



NEW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 


PUBLISHERS 



Copyright, 1913, 

By THOMAS Y . CROWELL COMPANY 



©CI.A350836 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. The New Scoutmaster .... i 

II. A Meeting of the Scouts ... i6 

III. In Camp 29 

IV. Besieged 42 

V. Mr. Dobson’s Decision .... 55 

VI. Peter’s Decision 69 

VII. Peter’s Plan 82 

VIII. The Conflagration 96 

IX. At Work iio 

X. Signs of Trouble 124 

XL At the Dam ........ 139 

XII. A Panic 153 

XIII. Guarding Against Mischief . . 167 

XIV. Mr. Dobson’s Opinion 181 

XV. Watching the Strangers . . . 195 

XVI. Despoiling the Enemy .... 209 

XVII. The Enemy 223 

XVIII. A Searching Inquiry 237 

XIX. A Cry for Help 251 

XX. A Plea for Help 265 

XXL A Dangerous Venture .... 279 

XXII. The End of the Struggle . . . 294 

XXIII. The Tie-Cutting Crew .... 309 

XXIV. A Prosperous Season 323 










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ILLUSTRATIONS 


One could hardly see ten paces 

IN ADVANCE Froutispiecc ^ 

OPPOSITE PAGE 

Make a single move . . . and I’ll do 

ALL I’ve threatened ” 50 ^ 

The flames fastened upon the logs in 

HALF A DOZEN PLACES . 102 

They came upon the apparently lifeless 

262 


FORM OF A MAN 



4 . 




f 



CHAPTER I 


THE NEW SCOUTMASTER 

What’s this I hear about your being picked 
out for the boss of the Boy Scouts this year, Peter 
Masterson ? ” and Richard Dobson, who was some- 
times called the ‘‘ King of the Penobscot Lumber- 
men,” looked critically at the slim, freckled-faced 
lad whom he had halted by stepping directly in his 
path. 

That’s what the fellows allow ; but I claim that 
I haven’t any right to be scoutmaster of two such 
patrols as ours. Jonas Hanson should have held 
on to the job after doing what he did in the way 
of fire ranging on your sections, sir,” the boy said 
quietly, glancing over his shoulder from time to 
time as if inclined to run away from the questioner. 

So that’s your idea, eh ? ” and Mr. Dobson 
laid his hand in a friendly manner on the little 
fellow’s shoulder, turning him half around that he 
might look him squarely in the face. ‘‘ Well, do you 
know, Peter, I’m thinking Jonas comes pretty near 
being right when he says that you handle the scouts 
in better shape than he can.” 

I 


2 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ That’s because Jonas wants to square things, 
an’ believes it’ll please me to be scoutmaster; but 
that’s where he’s m.aking a mistake, for between 
him and me there’s nothing of the kind needed.” 

What has he to square, Peter? ” 

“ Nothing really, sir; but he’s got it in his head, 
because he believed last summer that I was stealing 
the grub, that something of the kind is needed to 
sweeten me up. He’s making a big mistake, though, 
for I never found any iault with the fellows for 
laying the blame on me, after I’d made such a fool 
of myself.” 

Yes, yes. I’ve heard something of that from 
Joe Brown; but according to the way he tells the 
story, you came mighty near squaring the matter 
before the season was over, with quite a balance 
left in your favor,” and Mr. Dobson was forced to 
tighten his grasp on Peter’s shoulder, else the lad 
would have escaped in order to avoid answering 
questions which caused him some embarrassment. 
“ Do you know, Peter, when I think of those fire 
towers you designed, and which wouldn’t have 
been built by the scouts if you hadn’t egged them 
on to do more work than the contract called for, I’m 
inclined to say that Jonas was in the right when 
he stepped down and out from the office of scout- 
master. Is he one of the officers ? ” 

‘‘Yes; he’s the adjutant, and that makes it all 
the harder, because it don’t seem in any way right 
for him to play second fiddle to me.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


3 


“ Don’t let that fret you, lad,” the lumber oper- 
ator said with a hearty laugh, as if he found in 
Peter’s plaint something comical. I had a long 
talk with Jonas before he went out of office, and 
was glad he decided to do just as he has done. Be- 
tween you and me, Peter Masterson, I’ve got it into 
my head that there isn’t a boy in this town of Pen- 
obscot who can turn the trick as well as you, and 
the proof of my confidence in your ability is that 
I’m going to propose a contract of considerable im- 
portance even to the best of our woodsmen.” 

“ Meaning that you’ve got another job for our 
Scouts, sir ? ” Peter asked eagerly, when Mr. Dob- 
son ceased speaking for an instant much as though 
it were not his purpose to continue the conversa- 
tion at that time. 

‘‘ Well, it’s more in the nature of a regular busi- 
ness transaction, than such work as I gave you 
last season, for instead of paying wages I’m pro- 
posing a contract, in the carrying out of which you 
stand a chance of making considerable money, or 
of losing all you can rake and scrape.” 

“ But I haven’t got any money, Mr. Dobson,” 
Peter cried in a tone of distress. 

‘‘ Did your Scouts squander the hundred and 
twenty-five dollars I paid them for last season’s 
work ? ” the lumber operator asked sharply. 

Indeed they didn’t, sir. We used ten dollars 
for books and a stove to be put in the room Mr. 


BOY SCOUTS 


4 

Mansfield lets us have. The rest we put in the 
bank.” 

“ Then you’ve got a capital of one hundred and 
fifteen dollars, eh ? ” 

‘^Yes, sir.” 

Well, ril show you how to invest it in such a 
way that it can’t be lost unless you lads turn lazy. 
What about cutting railroad ties from now till Jan- 
uary, and then going to school from that time till 
spring ? ” 

Peter laughed aloud. The mere suggestion that 
the Boy Scouts go into the lumbering business even 
on a small scale, owning no land, or stumpage, as 
a timbered section is often called, was to him com- 
ical in the extreme; but the expression of mirth 
faded from his face when Mr. Dobson continued in 
a business-like tone: 

‘‘ There’s plenty of white cedar near around Gray 
Ledge, and, as you know, I own all the stumpage 
in that section. I’ll give you the right to go in there, 
for five cents a tie, and allow you the use of the 
camps, with the understanding that you turn all 
your ties over to me at the regular price, which is 
twenty cents for seven-inch, thirty-one cents for 
eight-inch, and thirty-six cents for nine-inch, agree- 
ing that you may run in twenty seven-inch ties in 
every hundred.” 

“ That’s a good, fair price, and you’re not asking 
too much for the stumpage,” Peter said as if simply 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


5 


giving words to his thoughts. Our Scouts can get 
out ties as well as men can; but it costs quite a 
penny to make ready for an operation like that. 
We’d have to hire a cook and a cookee. At least 
one pair of horses would be needed, and the money 
we’ve got in the bank wouldn’t go very far toward 
paying for such an amount of grub as we’d have to 
take in for our crowd.” 

“You should be able to hire Jabe Morse’s team 
for a dollar twelve a day, with two-fifty added for 
his own wages — perhaps three and a quarter from 
now till January, and he could run the wangan team 
as well.” 

“ Then we need a cook ” 

“ I’m allowing that Joe Brown would go with 
you for forty-five a month, and you could put in one 
of the Scouts as cookee.” 

“ How far would our hundred and fifteen dol- 
lars go toward handling such a contract, Mr. Dob- 
son?” Peter asked laughingly. “Our fellows 
could get out the ties all right ; but we’d need seven 
or eight hundred dollars as a starter.” 

“ That’s where you’re making a mistake, Peter 
Masterson,” and Mr. Dobson led the lad to the 
platform of Mr. Mansfield’s shop, where he seated 
himself with due regard to comfort as if preparing 
for a lengthy discussion. “ The provisions can be 
bought on credit. Joe Brown would be willing to 
leave his wages in your hands till the end of the 


6 


BOY SCOUTS 


season, and Jabe Morse needn’t be paid more than 
enough to keep his family, till you can turn your- 
self around. I’ll scale up as often as you like, and 
before the end of the first month you should have 
as much in my hands as will see you through the 
job.” 

“ But if we didn’t make a go of it? ” Peter mut- 
tered, and Mr. Dobson interrupted him by saying 
curtly : 

“ If you don’t put the contract through it’s a case 
of standing off your creditors and duffing into any 
kind of work that comes to hand in order to pay 
your bills.” 

Peter remained silent, evidently in deep thought, 
and after a full minute had passed the lumber oper- 
ator asked sharply: 

“ Well, what about it ? ” 

I’m wondering whether the other fellows 
would be willing to take the risk. It seems like a 
big bite for boys to chew.” 

Do you think there’s much chance for failure ? ” 

“ If I was the only fellow needed for such a 
contract. I’d take it like a flash, for it’s only a case 
of duffing into the work in order to make quite a 
big dollar.” 

True for you, Peter Masterson,” Mr. Dobson 
replied heartily. ‘‘ Like almost everything in this 
world that we’re after, hard work will bring the 
desired result every time. Last year I’d have called 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


7 


myself a fool for even suggesting that a crowd of 
boys could make a go of getting out ties; but since 
seeing what your Scouts did then, Eve come to have 
a good bit of confidence in them. However, there’s 
a chance that you might lose money by the opera- 
tion, and in case you did I should hold every last 
Scout for what might be due me, if I kept his nose 
right down to the grindstone for the next ten 
years.” 

“How much ought fourteen men to earn at Gray 
Ledge from now till January?” Peter asked after 
another time of silence. 

“ Well, let me see,” and Mr. Dobson took an old 
letter from his pocket, figuring on the envelope 
three minutes or more as he muttered half to him- 
self, “ We’ll allow you start in the first of Septem- 
ber — from then to January is four months — six- 
teen weeks and more — say an hundred twenty days 
with sixteen Sundays out — make it one hundred 
days even — two-fifty a day. That sized gang should 
stack up thirty-five hundred dollars’ worth of ties 
before January ” 

“ Three thousand five hundred ! ” Peter ex- 
claimed. 

“ That’s setting it low, lad, and there’s nothing 
alarming about it after you’ve deducted the average 
expenses. Now, let’s see — Morse and his horse 
would earn about three hundred and fifty in that 
time. If Joe Brown agrees to go in for forty-five. 


8 


BOY SCOUTS 


his wages wouldn’t be far from an hundred ninety. 
Provisions and fodder — about seven hundred. 
Stumpage at five cents would run it up — Take it in 
a lump, I’d say you lads ought’er clean up two 
thousand dollars, which would be less than two dol- 
lars a day for each fellow, and if the crowd worked 
as it did at Gray Ledge, you should pull out three 
thousand, which would be quite a neat little nest- 
egg for the Boy Scouts of Penobscot.” 

“ How much could we stand to lose, sir? ” Peter 
asked as soon as he had partially recovered from 
the surprise caused by the possibilities as set forth 
by the lumber operator. 

‘‘ Well, if you got to squabbling among your- 
selves, or if half the gang were loafers, with the 
weather bad against you, it might be a case of 
coming out three or four hundred dollars in the 
hole, although I can’t see how anything of the 
kind could happen unless your lads turned squarely 
around from the stand they took last summer.” 

Peter dug his bare toes into the soft earth as if 
by so doing it would be possible for him the better 
to grasp the situation, and Richard Dobson watched 
him keenly, as if it was to him vitally important 
that the scoutmaster should accept the proposition. 

After fully five minutes of silent communing, 
young Masterson thrust his hands deep in his 
pockets and turned sharply around to face the 
lumber king of Penobscot, as he said stoutly: 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


9 


I’m ready to go into it, and I believe it will be 
possible to bring the other fellows around to my 
way of thinking.’' 

** Good for you, Peter Masterson ! ” Mr. Dob- 
son said emphatically. You remember that I pre- 
dicted, when you put up the proposition to build 
the look-out towers, that you’d be a lumber oper- 
ator of some size if you lived long enough, and this 
is just the sort of a contract to give you a start. 
There are half a dozen of your Scouts who’ll go up 
to the Ledge and do honest work; but it’s a case 
of your keeping right after the others with a sharp 
stick in order to make a profit ” 

‘‘ You’re mighty good to us, Mr. Dobson, and 
we’ll try ” 

“ Stop where you are, Peter Masterson, and 
don’t get on that strain again. I’m not given to 
doing anything in the way of charity, and am not 
allowing to start in on that line even with you, 
who’ve shown yourself a likely sort of a lad. All 
you’re getting out of me is a chance of working 
like a beaver from now till January, with the risk of 
going bankrupt if you idle away the time. I’m of- 
fering the same terms I’d offer to Dave Pooler, and 
no better. Of course, he’d like to take the contract, 
and I know he could carry it out in good shape ; but 
I’m giving it to you with no favors. It’s to be a 
straight business transaction all the way through, 
and if you make a failure of it I’ll push you just 
as hard and just as far as any other creditor could.’’ 


10 


BOY SCOUTS 


These last words caused Peter to realize that it 
might not be possible for him to purchase the 
needed provisions on credit, and he said ruefully as 
he started toward the door of the shop : 

“ I reckon Td better find out whether Mr. Mans- 
field will sell us the grub and wait for his pay till 
weVe earned the money, before I have very much 
to say to the boys.” 

“ Seeing's how Pm to have all the ties you cut, 
ril guarantee the bill up to five hundred dollars, so 
you needn't bother about what Mansfield thinks of 
the matter. Of course I shall insist that his debt be 
paid from the first money due. Til even go so far 
as to say that Til back you for anything that may 
be wanted in the way of tools and wangan outfit. 
You boys should be able to get from your homes the 
bedding that’ll be needed, which will make quite a 
saving in the cost of the camp outfit. When do you 
count on calling your crowd together ? ” 

‘‘ I’ll let them know this evening that you have 
made the proposition for us to get out ties for you, 
and if the whole crowd won’t agree to come into the 
bargain, I’m certain I can get six or seven of the 
boys to go in with me. A small gang might get 

along without a regular cook ” 

Don’t figure on saving money at the expense 
of your bodies. If you lads are to work well at the 
Ledge you must be well fed and well housed, else 
you’re like to come to grief. Find out what your 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


II 


Scouts are willing to do, and let me know to-mor- 
row morning. Don’t put the profits up too strong, 
and go easy on coaxing, for a lad who sets about 
such work as getting out ties must start in because 
of wanting to do it, and not because some other fel- 
low has over-persuaded him.” 

Those who have read “ The Boy Scouts in 
the Maine Woods ” will understand why such 
a noted operator as Richard Dobson, who had the 
reputation of being close fisted,” should have 
made a proposition to two patrols of Boy Scouts, 
numbering, with the scoutmaster and adjutant, 
only fourteen. He had hired them as fire rangers 
the summer before, being at first doubtful if they 
could or would perform such work faithfully, and 
was so happily surprised before the season came 
to an end, that he had presented the Scouts with 
a complete outfit in the way of uniforms and ac- 
couterments. 

During the previous winter the boys of Penob- 
scot, urged to such a venture by a lad named Jonas 
Hanson, had organized two patrols of Boy Scouts : 
one, the Beavers, under Jerry Simpson, patrol 
leader, and Fred Howe, corporal. The second 
was known as the Ravens, with Ezra Hubbard as 
leader and Sam Merrill as corporal. Jonas Han- 
son was made scoutmaster, with Eben Verrill ad- 
jutant. Richard Dobson had hired them to act as 
fire rangers on his Gray Ledge sections, doubting 


12 


BOY SCOUTS 


at the time whether a company of boys would be 
able or disposed to play the part of men. 

The Boy Scouts had disappointed him very hap- 
pily, and before the season came to an end, despite 
the fact that Peter Masterson went so far wrong 
that it seemed certain he would succeed in bringing 
grave discredit upon the organization, the lads had 
not only won the confidence of the lumber opera- 
tor, but Ezra Hubbard received from the parent 
organization the bronze cross, and Peter Masterson 
the silver cross, for saving lives at risk of their 
own. 

Having tried the Boy Scouts in one branch of 
his business, Mr. Dobson felt certain they could 
serve him in more important matters ; but it was on 
Peter Masterson, the boy who had ‘‘ gone wrong 
the season previous, that he placed the greatest 
dependence, for the lad had redeemed himself so 
nobly that all the early doubts which Mr. Dobson 
had entertained regarding the value of the scout 
movement were dissipated, and in their stead grew 
the belief that the newly chosen scoutmaster had 
in him the making of a manly man. 

There was an expression of deepest gravity on 
Peter’s face as he brought the interview to a close 
by going toward the home of Jonas Hanson, his 
adjutant, the lad who had formerly been scout- 
master of the patrols, and Mr. Dobson called after 
him in a friendly tone : 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


13 


Don’t try to make a boy see things your way 
if he’s inclined to hold back in the harness. You’re 
needing only those who are as eager as yourself, 
and the lads who can’t see a big dollar in the con- 
tract had best be left at home, for — There goes 
Joe Brown and it won’t take many minutes to find 
out whether he’s ready to come into the agreement 
at forty-five a month. Don’t let him coax you into 
paying more, for you can’t afford it ! ” 

A moment later Peter was walking by the side of 
Mr. Brown, a well and favorably known cook in 
that section of the country, who had spent the 
greater portion of his- life in lumber camps, and 
who was at once deeply interested in the scheme 
presented by the scoutmaster. 

“ Well, well, I’ve allers said that when Richard 
Dobson began to do other people favors which 
didn’t have in ’em the biggest slice for Mr. Dob- 
son, it was time for the average man to get in 
out’er the wet; but he sure has put it up to you in 
great shape. Why, Peter, there isn’t a man here in 
Penobscot who wouldn’t jump at such a contract as 
that!” 

‘‘ But yet there’s just a chance we might lose 
money, and, as you know, our Boy Scouts haven’t 
got much to risk,” Master Masterson said thought- 
fully, as if he was beginning to have doubts regard- 
ing the wisdom of the lads in undertaking such a 
venture. 


14 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Of course there’s a chance, Peter boy, for you 
might have bad weather, or meet with accidents, 
or have a ruction among the Scouts; but if every- 
thing went on as it ought’er an’ as you could almost 
count it would, then you’d make a pile. Who is to 
go in as cook ? ” 

‘‘ Mr. Dobson seemed to think you’d be willing to 
take the job at forty-five dollars a month,” Peter 
replied hesitatingly, and Mr. Brown appeared very 
greatly surprised. 

“ Richard Dobson knows I never go into the 
woods under sixty dollars, an’ have the naming of 
my cookee, so why does he make such talk as 
that?” 

“ I reckon it’s ’cause he knows we haven’t got 
much money, and are what you might call green at 
the business ” 

“ If nothing goes wrong you can’t fail of making 
a good season, for there’s plenty of white cedar at 
Gray Ledge,” Mr. Brown suggested, and Peter, 
thinking it might be good policy to take advantage 
of his enthusiasm, asked eagerly: 

“ Would you be willing to go in at forty-five a 
month, and take on one of our boys as cookee, with 
the understanding that if we made as good a season 
as you and Mr. Dobson think we ought, you’d be 
paid full wages ? 

** Why, I’m not certain but I would, for I don’t 
see how you can fail, unless some of your own 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 15 

crowd kick up a row. Yes, I reckon I will if I can 
have Eben Verrill for cookee.” 

‘‘ All right ; Fm going to call the boys together 
now to see what they think of the scheme, and Fll 
have a talk with Eben,” Peter replied as he moved 
hurriedly away; but there was a great doubt in his 
mind as to whether Eben, who had been adjutant 
of the Scouts, would be willing to accept the arduous 
position of cookee even under such a noted cook as 
Joe Brown. 


CHAPTER II 


A MEETING OF THE SCOUTS 

Peter had but little difficulty in calling his Scouts 
together for a business meeting. Although no more 
than half an hour had elapsed since Mr. Dobson 
made the proposition to the scoutmaster, nearly 
every idle man in the town of Penobscot knew that 
the lumber king had offered to let his tie-cutting to 
‘‘ a parcel of boys.” There were not a few who 
believed that an injustice had been done them, by 
thus giving to the Scouts work which experienced 
woodsmen would have been well pleased to perform 
with every probability of making good wages. 

Because the news had spread thus rapidly, Mas- 
ter Masterson found nearly all his Scouts gathered 
in front of William Mansfield’s shop, and it was a 
task quickly performed to summon those few who 
had not already heard of the good fortune in store 
for them. 

Not until all the company had assembled in the 
rear room of the shop building which Mr. Mans- 
field allowed the Boy Scouts of Penobscot to use as 
a meeting place, would Peter explain why the mem- 
16 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


bers of the two patrols had been summoned; but 
no one felt particularly aggrieved because of such 
delay, owing to the fact that it was common rumor 
on the village streets that Mr. Dobson had it in 
mind to make a contract with the lads. 

When Peter had called the Scouts to order pre- 
paratory to the transaction of business, and before he 
could explain the purpose of the meeting, Sam 
Merrill asked curiously : 

How much does Mr. Dobson allow to pay for 
ties ? ’’ 

How did you know he wanted us to go in on 
his cuttings?” Peter asked in surprise, and Jonas 
Hanson replied laughingly : 

“ Nearly everybody in Penobscot knows, or 
thinks he knows, just what Mr. Dobson said to you. 
News like that travels fast in this town. Mr. Mans- 
field is telling that the Boy Scouts have been offered 
the job of taking out ties from the Gray Ledge 
sections.” 

And it’s a fact,” Master Masterson said gravely, 
for he was a trifle disappointed at not having had 
the opportunity to give his followers the first in- 
formation. We’d have to spend a good deal more 
money than we’ve got, in order to start this crowd 
at work, and of course there’s a chance we might 
not make a success of it, although it does seem as if 
we ought to earn big wages. It’s up to all hands to 
say whether we shall tackle the job.” 


i8 


BOY SCOUTS 


“How much is Mr. Dobson willing to pay?” 
Eben Verrill asked. 

“ The regular price : twenty, thirty-one and thirty- 
six, we to give five cents on each tie for stumpage.” 

“ There isn’t a man in town who wouldn’t jump 
at such a chance,” Jonas cried, and Peter said 
gloomily, for now that he had considered the mat- 
ter it began to appear as if the contract was far too 
big for a party of boys to handle : 

“I know that, Jonas; but think of the chances 
against us if any of the crowd make fools of them- 
selves, as I did last summer, or if we have many 
heavy storms after winter sets in. It’ll be a case of 
hiring a cook ” 

“ Didn’t I see you talking to Joe Brown? Eben 
interrupted. 

“Yes; Mr. Dobson thought he ought to go with 
us for forty-five a month, and he’s willing to do so 
if we agree to two things.” 

“What are they?” Eben asked impatiently. 
“If we can get Joe Brown to cook for us we ought 
to agree to almost anything.” 

“ I’m allowing that you’ll be the first to kick at 
his requirements,” Peter replied grimly, and Eben 
cried hotly: 

“ Don’t make the mistake of thinking that I’ll be 
the one to turn rusty, Peter Masterson! If we can 
take Mr. Dobson’s contract, and have Joe Brown 
as cook. I’ll hold up my hand for anything.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


19 


'' Well, first off,’' Peter began, speaking slowly 
so that all might understand clearly, he’ll go for 
the forty-five if we agree to pay sixty in case we 

pull the job off with a fairly good profit ” 

I don’t see as we’ve got the right to kick at that,” 
Eben cried. “ Brown always gets sixty dollars a 
month, and we can’t expect him to work for us at a 
less rate, in case we’re making money.” 

Because we can’t afford to hire a cookee on ac- 
count of not having a very large capital to start 
with, he allows that you must fill the bill.” 

Me go as cookee ? ” Eben cried sharply, and as 
if the idea was disagreeable. 

“ That’s what he told me.” 

‘‘Of course Eben will tackle the job if that’s all 
that prevents us from having Joe Brown as cook,” 
Jonas said confidently, and the ex-adjutant of the 
Scouts did not venture to contradict the former 
scoutmaster, although the expression on his face 
told that he was far from pleased with the idea of 
acting as cookee during the greater portion of the 
winter. 

“ Then we’ll have to hire Jabe Morse and his pair 
of horses,” Peter continued, speaking hurriedly lest 
Eben should make serious objection to that part of 
the work laid out for him. “ It’ll take considerable 
money to do that, and, besides, we’ll be called on to 
pay for hay and grain.” 

“ Give him eight cents a tie for hauling, which is 


20 


BOY SCOUTS 


the same he got from Prescott Brothers last season, 
and then we won’t need to put up any money till we 
get our pay,” Sam Merrill suggested. 

There was no good reason why the Scouts should 
vote on the question of accepting the proposition 
made by Mr. Dobson. Every member of both pa- 
trols treated the matter as if it was already settled 
that they should go to Gray Ledge, and before Peter 
could ask if they were agreed on taking the contract, 
the boys were eagerly discussing the details, seem- 
ingly desirous of getting to work at the earliest pos- 
sible moment. 

Peter repeated what Mr. Dobson had said relative 
to aiding them with credit when the supplies were 
bought, and within half an hour from the time the 
Scouts had come together it was generally under- 
stood that all hands would set out for Gray Ledge 
as soon as the necessary arrangements could be 
made. 

Peter and Jonas were to purchase the supplies. 
To Eben was entrusted the business of concluding 
the bargain with Joe Brown, while Jerry Simpson 
and Fred Howe of the Beavers were to make the 
most favorable trade possible with Jabe Morse for 
hauling the ties. 

In fact, all the details had been decided upon, and 
the Scouts fully committed to Mr. Dobson’s propo- 
sition, when it was agreed that Peter should call 
upon the lumber operator without loss of time, to 


IN A LUMBER CAME 


21 


notify him that the Boy Scouts of Penobscot had de- 
cided to take the contract of getting out railroad ties 
from the Gray Ledge sections, they promising to 
work until January, if not longer. 

“ Going to try it, eh? ’’ Mr. Dobson said gruffly 
when Master Masterson presented himself at the 
lumber operator’s office, the Scouts meanwhile wait- 
ing in the room at the rear of Mr. Mansfield’s shop 
until the agreement was finally ratified. 

“ The boys think they can make a good thing out 
of it, sir.” 

“Of course they can by working as lads should 
work; but if they count on going in for a frolic, then 
it’s likely to be a dead failure. What do you think 
about it, Peter ? ” 

“If we had money enough to swing the business 
without running into debt, I’d say it was a good 
thing for us Scouts; but I can’t help being a little 
shaky at tackling such a big job.’^ 

“Can you hold your gang up to the work?” 

“ With Jonas to help me, I believe I can, sir. 

^ You see there ain’t any of them who’d be likely to 
come as near being fools as I was the first day we 
struck in at Gray Ledge.” 

“ And if they pull out of their foolishness as well 
as you did, you’ll have as good a gang as can be 
found within fifty miles of this town. It seems that 
some of the people here in Penobscot, who’ve got 
into the habit of minding other people’s business in- 


22 


BOY SCOUTS 


stead of their own, have already begun to call me 
crazy because Fm going to let a lot of boys in on 
the Gray Ledge cuttings; but that doesn’t jar me 
overly much, for they howled just as loudly when I 
hired you Scouts as a fire patrol. Now about the 
outfit?” 

“ Fve been wondering whether you wouldn’t be 
willing to help us out on that, sir?” Peter said 
timidly, as if expecting to be reproved for such a 
suggestion. “ You see we fellows don’t know just 
how much may be needed, and you do, so ” 

“ All right, Peter, Fll order the stuff sent down 
to Seboois, and ’phone Jim Haley to have it sent in 
when you’re ready to begin work.” 

“If it’s all the same to you, sir, we’d like to start 
on the job right away. The boys are willing, and the 
sooner we get to work the nearer we’ll come to pay- 
ing our way.” 

“ You may count on having everything in camp 
by Saturday, and you must be there in order to take 
care of it. After that, when you’re needing more 
supplies, call on Jim Haley to send them in the same 
as if I was outfitting the gang. Another thing, 
Peter, you may use my boarding-house at Seboois as 
you did last summer. If you pull too hard on the 
wangan I shall charge full price for board; but in 
case you play fair, we’ll let what you get at Seboois 
go as a bonus. Get your crew in, and I’ll attend to 
the rest of the business.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


23 


Then Mr. Dobson turned toward his desk as if to 
intimate that the interview should come to an end, 
and Scoutmaster Masterson hastened away to report 
to his comrades. 

Before nightfall all necessary arrangements, even 
to the bargain with Jabe Morse, had been made, and 
the Boy Scouts of Penobscot were quite firmly con- 
vinced that they were on the direct road to wealth 
in thus taking Mr. Dobson's contract ; but the scout- 
master and his adjutant were not so sanguine, for 
both understood that there were many possibilities 
of failure, 

Cutting ties from daylight till dark isn’t going 
to be the same easy kind of a job as we had fire rang- 
ing,” Jonas Hanson said as he and Peter walked 
slowly homeward, both feeling keenly the great re- 
sponsibility which rested upon them. If four or 
five of the fellows back down after we’ve put in sup- 
plies for all hands, there’s a mighty good show of 
our coming out of the little end of the horn, with 
nothing but debts to show for the hard work.” 

“ I’d feel better about it if you had held on as 
scoutmaster, for you can handle the crowd better 
than I can,” Peter said thoughtfully and mournfully. 
“ Why not shift jobs? I’ll go back into the Beaver 
patrol, and be mighty glad to get out of office, while 
you and Eben Verrill may run the business same as 
you did last summer.” 

‘‘ You’ll stay right where you are, Peter Master- 


24 


BOY SCOUTS 


son, that’s what will happen to you! ” Jonas replied 
decidedly. I’m not afraid but that you can keep 
the boys up to their work, and do it better than I 
could. Besides, Eben is bound to go as cookee, so 
he can’t be counted on to do anything else.” 

Then let me take the adjutant’s job, and you 
run the gang.” 

We’ll keep right on as was decided upon when 
we came out from Gray Ledge last fall,” Jonas said 
in a tone which did not admit of argument. After 
you built the fire towers, to say nothing of saving 
Fred Howe’s life, as everybody claims you did, I 
came to believe you ought to be scoutmaster, and I’ve 
had no reason to change my mind. Do you know, I 
don’t believe Richard Dobson would have given us 
the contract for cutting his ties if it hadn’t been 
that you were bossing the Scouts. He has a big 
opinion of you, else he wouldn’t have let out a job 
to us that every lumberman in town would jump 
at.” 

Peter was not convinced that he could fill the po- 
sition of scoutmaster better than Jonas Hanson; but 
he was unable to advance any further argument 
against continuing in office, save at the expense of 
having it appear that he was backing down ” now 
when it was too late to draw out from the contract 
with the lumber operator. 

Jabe Morse started early Friday morning with his 
horses, for Seboois, he having agreed to haul the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


25 


ties for eight cents each, and every member of the 
Boy Scouts was ready for the journey within an 
hour after Jabe departed; but, as a matter of course, 
all hands were forced to wait patiently until the 
early morning train left Penobscot next day. 

Half an hour before the train was due the Scouts 
were drawn up in line on the station platform, each 
fellow wearing the uniform which had been pre- 
sented him by Mr. Dobson, and all striving to make, 
so far as possible, a true military show. Joe Brown 
was there also, as might have been expected after he 
had given his word to that effect, and while waiting 
for the train he said to Scoutmaster Masterson : 

‘‘ When we pulled out of here last summer I al- 
lowed that Richard Dobson had lost his wits because 
of sending a gang of boys to Gray Ledge to do fire 
ranging, and felt mightily like throwing up my job 
on account of believing that everything would go 
wrong; but now Pm looking ahead to a decently 
good season with nothing to ruffle a hair.” 

Fm hoping you won’t be disappointed, Mr. 
Brown ; but I can’t help feeling shaky over the busi- 
ness, for we’ve bitten off a big chew in taking the 
contract, and if we make a failure it’ll mean coming 
out with a large debt on our shoulders.” 

“ Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it, Peter,” 
Joe Brown said laughingly. “Of course it stands to 
reason that you’d be feeling a bit haired up, seeing’s 
how you’re the boss; but worrying won’t buy the 


26 


BOY SCOUTS 


baby a frock, so the best way is to look pleasant and 
take the chances that everything’ll go your way.” 

“ What about the camps? ” Peter asked, for while 
he tossed sleeplessly on his bed the night before, the 
question of winter quarters had troubled him not a 
little. 

“ Richard Dobson allowed, and I agreed with 
him,” Mr. Brown said with the air of an expert who 
is testifying in some important case, “ that we would 
be bound to use the hovel for all hands. If we went 
into the two small shanties we used last summer, it 
would mean cutting a big lot of fire- wood, whereas 
if we take to the hovel we’re all under one roof, so 
to speak, for Jabe can stable his horses just off the 
dingle, in the camp that has been used for storing 
hay.” 

“ It seems a shame to leave idle those huts we used 
last year, for there are no better quarters in the 
Maine woods,” Peter said thoughtfully, and Mr. 
Brown replied forcibly: 

“ Look here, Mr. Scoutmaster Masterson, you’re 
going in on this trip for the money, not for style. 
I’ll allow it was way up in G to have a cook-camp 
separate from the gang’s sleeping quarters; but in 
July we wasn’t needing a fire overly bad, while in 
December the^wood must be piled on in great shape, 
and I’m allowing that Eben Verrill wouldn’t take to 
the idee that he’d got to keep two camps supplied 
with fire-wood. Better hold to the hovel, where 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


27 

we’ll all be better housed in cold weather than when 
we were fighting mosquitoes.” 

“ Of course it’ll be as you say, Mr. Brown,” Peter 
replied humbly, and as he spoke the cook seemingly 
fell into a passion. 

“ You’re the king-pin of this ’ere outfit, and I 
don’t want you to forget it, Peter Masterson! If 
you say the summer camps, into them we go; but I 
was advising the use of the hovel seeing’s how it 
would cost so much less work in the way of cutting 
wood ” 

We’ll go into the hovel, Mr. Brown,” Peter said 
quietly, and straightway Joe Brown came to believe 
that with this new scoutmaster the cook could direct 
the movements of those who worked on Mr. Dob- 
son’s sections, nor did he awaken to the fact that he 
had made a mistake of judgment until the task of 
cutting ties was well begun, when he got a well de- 
fined idea that Scoutmaster Masterson had plans of 
his own. 

When the railroad train halted at Penobscot sta- 
tion with a great expenditure of steam as if to give 
evidence of its own importance, the Boy Scouts of 
Penobscot filed on board in orderly fashion, much 
to the satisfaction of Joe Brown, and until they ar- 
rived at Seboois the most captious conductor could 
not have found fault with their behavior. It was as 
if every member of the two patrols, was eager to 
show that the scoutmaster had them under perfect 


28 


BOY SCOUTS 


control, and then and there Master Masterson prom- 
ised himself that he would overlook many lapses 
from discipline because of their bearing while under 
the public gaze. 

In due time came the moment when they were to 
leave the cars, and it is safe to say that the good peo- 
ple of Seboois had never seen a better example of 
military movements than when these boys who were 
to prove their worth as men, so far as carrying out 
the contract with Richard Dobson was concerned, 
marched forth from the settlement in the rear of 
Jabe Morse’s team on which was loaded the wangan. 

It is possible that Eben Verrill felt a bit ashamed 
of himself because he was acting the part of cookee, 
when he should have been among the leaders ; but he 
did his duty manfully, keeping ever in mind the fact 
that upon himself, perhaps more than upon any other 
member of the two patrols, depended the future of 
the Boy Scouts of Penobscot. 

And thus it was, with Joe Brown and Eben Ver- 
rill marching alongside the wangan wagon, and 
Peter Masterson and Jonas Hanson at the head of 
the Scouts, the company of boys who had taken a 
contract which experienced men would have been 
well pleased to carry out, left the station at Seboois 
for the long, arduous tramp to Gray Ledge. 


CHAPTER III 


IN CAMP 

It is safe to say that there is no harder nine-mile 
tramp in the State of Maine than the trail from Se- 
boois station to Gray Ledge. While the path is well 
defined, and sufficiently cleared to admit of the pas- 
sage even during the summer, of a two-horse team, 
it is strewn with rocks, veritable boulders, decaying 
tree-trunks, and crossed by numerous tiny streams, 
until even the most experienced woodsman cannot 
travel more than two miles an hour. Wangan teams, 
drawn by two heavy horses, are not expected to 
make on this trail more than a single mile in every 
sixty minutes. 

When the Boy Scouts went over the trail the 
season previous, it was Peter Masterson who showed 
signs of insubordination, even going so far as to de- 
clare flatly that he would not carry his own knap- 
sack, although Scoutmaster Hanson had given ex- 
plicit orders to such effect. Now, however, having 
had bitter and salutary experience as to the evils of 
insubordination, it was this same Peter who strove 
to the utmost to cheer the others when they lagged 
29 


30 


BOY SCOUTS 


far behind the wangan team, or insisted that it was 
absolutely necessary they have a long rest. 

Scoutmaster Peter went from the front to the rear 
of his little column, heeding not the many additional 
steps, giving this fellow a cheery word, or remind- 
ing another that if he remained motionless any great 
length of time his legs would grow stiff. Never once 
did the newly chosen scoutmaster seem to think of 
his own weariness, and when it was allowed that the 
other members of the patrols might stretch out at 
full length on the ground from three to five minutes 
while the horses were given a “ breathing spell,” he 
continued to move to and fro encouraging his com- 
rades by reminding them that the faster they 
marched onward the sooner they would be in camp 
‘‘ taking solid comfort while the cook and cookee 
made ready a regular feast.” 

No fellow allowed himself to say that it was im- 
possible for him to continue the journey; but before 
the end came many of the Scouts were plodding for- 
ward with drooping heads and lagging feet as if 
finding it difficult to keep up even a pretence of ad- 
vancing. Then the weary ones were heartened, 
shortly before nightfall, by the welcome information 
from those in front, that the camps were in sight, 
and even those who were almost exhausted stepped 
out quite jauntily, happy in the knowledge that the 
fatiguing labor was so nearly at an end. 

As seemed proper, the scoutmaster and his ad- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


31 


jutant led the way now that the little company had 
arrived within a short distance of the halting place, 
while Joe Brown and Eben Verrill continued to 
march by the side of the wangan team as if believ- 
ing it necessary to keep strict guard over the sup- 
plies. The other Scouts were some distance in the 
rear, and, therefore, not aware that Peter and Jonas 
came to a sudden halt while they were yet fifty feet 
from the hovel which it was believed would be their 
home during five months or more. 

“What’s the matter?” Joe Brown cried, he 
having observed that the scoutmaster and adju- 
tant were gazing around in what was very like dis- 
may. 

“ Did Mr. Dobson send any other fellows to these 
cuttings ? ” Peter asked sharply, and the cook replied 
as if believing the question needless : 

“Of course not. You and your scouts were to cut 
ties anywhere you pleased on these sections.” 

“ Some one is living here in the hovel ! ” Jonas 
shouted angrily, standing motionless where he had 
halted, and pointing to the open door near which 
could be seen a litter of boxes and pressed hay, to- 
gether with other evidences of occupancy. 

“ There’s nobody here, that’s certain, for Richard 
Dobson wouldn’t have sent two gangs in on the same 
cuttings, and I heard him say he didn’t count on 
taking anything from the Gray Ledge sections ex- 
cept ties,” Mr. Brown cried sharply as he went 


32 BOY SCOUTS 

quickly into the hovel, while Jabe Morse muttered 
discontentedly : 

“ I allowed somethin’ would turn up wrong before 
very long, seein’s how matters started in so smooth, 
with never a kick from Dobson! ” 

Jabe began to unharness his smoking horses, how- 
ever, not intending, as he told Eben, to stick 
his nose in where it didn’t belong,” while the 
Scouts pressed forward in a throng to view the 
premises. 

Although no human being, outside their own pa- 
trols, could be seen, there was no question but that 
the hovel had been taken possession of by those who 
counted on making a long stay. The stores, a goodly 
portion of which were in the dingle, had been thrown 
here or there without heed to economy of space or 
shelter from the weather, and inside the hovel half 
a dozen bunks had been filled with bedding. 

‘‘Well, here’s a pretty how-de-do!” Joe Brown 
exclaimed after a hasty examination of the interiors 
“ It looks as if we’d have to take forcible posses- 
sion.” 

“ Most likely Mr. Dobson sent in another gang, 
and counted that we’d live in the small camps, as we 
did last summer,” Jonas suggested ruefully, where- 
upon the cook seemingly fell into a passion, as he 
cried : 

“ Dobson knew that we were to use the hovel on 
account of the horses! He talked with me abqj^t it 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


33 


last night, and wanted me to make sure you boys 
didn’t turn the other huts into pig-pens. I know for 
a certainty that he hasn’t sent another gang in here, 
’cause he told me you boys were to take ties from 
all these sections.” ^ 

“ Then what’s the meaning of this ? ” and Peter 
pointed to the outfit piled up inside the door. 

“ Some crowd heard that Dobson wasn’t counting 
on operating near about Gray Ledge this coming sea- 
son, and has sneaked in with the idee of skinning off 
a lot of timber before the owner could get an inkling 
of what was being done,” Joe Brown said half to 
himself, and Eben Verrill added laughingly: 

I’ve lived in Penobscot all my life, and this is 
the first time I ever heard that men could steal stand- 
ing timber.” 

You’d better mix with folks a bit more, so’s to 
hear of what’s being done in this ’ere world,” the 
cook cried angrily. Did you never hear of the 
gang who worked around Jessley Dam two years 
ago, and not only sent their logs down with the 
drive, but sorted ’em out at the works, getting off 
with more’n two hundred thousand feet? ” 

“ But they were caught at it, and not only had a 
winter’s work for nothing, but came near going to 
jail,” Eben replied. 

“ Yes, they were caught at it because of trying to 
bit€;^ff too big a chew. It wouldn’t have been very 
harorfor them to have got away with a lot of ties. 


34 


BOY SCOUTS 


and that’s jest what this gang are counting on, or 
my name ain’t Brown.” 

“ But what are we to do about it? ” Peter asked 
in distress, for at the moment it seemed to him that 
the bargain made with Mr. Dobson could not be 
carried out to the advantage of the Boy Scouts since 
the sections were already occupied. 

If I was the boss of this ’ere gang, which I ain’t, 
I know mighty well what I’d do,” and Mr. Brown 
spoke emphatically. 

“Well, what would you do?” the scoutmaster 
asked impatiently. 

“ Throw all this duffle outside, and warn other 
folks to keep their distance. You’re here under 
orders from the owner of the stumpage, and have the 
upper hand if you’ve a mind to hold it.” 

“ But that would raise a regular row! ” Peter ex- 
claimed ruefully. “ After these fellows have 
brought all this stuff here it isn’t likely they’re going 
to pay very much attention to what we say.” 

“ They surely won’t if you are mealy-mouthed. 
Stand up for your rights, and they’ll soon dance to 
your whistling, knowing that a man like Richard 
Dobson don’t put up with very much nonsense. De- 
cide in a hurry, for it’s time Eben and I were 
hustling the supper,” and Joe Brown stepped back 
to the wangan team where he stood as if waiting for 
orders to unload. 

“What shall I do, Jonas?” Peter asked of his 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


35 


adjutant in a whisper, and looking, as in fact he felt, 
decidedly disturbed in mind. “ We didn’t come here 
to fight, and Mr. Brown seems to think that Tve got 
to settle matters off-hand.” 

Jonas himself was perplexed. Equally with Peter 
he was opposed to fighting under the circumstances ; 
but he realized that it was their duty to take posses- 
sion of the hovel as Mr. Dobson had directed. 

“Of course weVe got to send word to Penobscot, 
and let the owner of the land settle his own quar- 
rels ” 

“ There isn’t a fellow among us in condition to 
walk back to Seboois to-night, and even if we send 
one in the morning, it’ll be two or three days before 
Mr. Dobson can get here. What’s to be done has to 
be done this minute, and with the understanding that 
we’ll do the other thing as soon as possible.” 

“ Take possession of the hovel according to or- 
ders ! ” Joe Brown cried impatiently. “ You’ve got 
the right on your side, so what’s the sense in 
hanging off ? Are you willing to go back to Richard 
Dobson and tell him that you got scared at the sight 
of a wangan outfit, so gave way to those who had 
no business here? ” 

“If we should go into the small camps for to- 
night, without at least making a try to do as Mr. 
Dobson ordered, it would look as if we wasn’t sure 
whether we belonged here,” Jerry Simpson sug- 
gested, and the cook added in a loud tone : 


BOY SCOUTS 


36 


“ That’s the size of it, Peter ! It’s your business 
to look after Mr. Dobson’s interests, the same as 
you did last summer, and you won’t be doing it by 
sneaking off like a coward.” 

These last words decided Scoutmaster Masterson, 
and although he inwardly quaked with fear because 
of possible results, he said stoutly and as though 
very certain as to his course of action : 

We’ll unload our wangan and take possession! 
Throw the blankets out of those bunks, Jerry, while 
the other fellows make up their beds for the night; 
I reckon we’ve got time enough before dark to lay 
in a supply of fir tips.” 

“ That’s the way to talk,” Joe Brown said ap- 
provingly, and straightway he began unloading the 
wangan team as if afraid Peter might reconsider his 
decision in case he was allowed sufficient time. 

Meanwhile Jabe Morse had unharnessed his 
horses and stabled them by the side of two others 
who whinnied loudly for food, thus giving evidence 
that the intruders had been absent from the hovel 
some considerable time. The Scouts, the majority 
of whom were convinced that Joe Brown’s plan was 
the proper one under the circumstances, made all 
possible haste to clear the hovel of the goods belong- 
ing to the strangers, and it must be admitted that 
but little care was exercised in the removal. Every- 
thing was thrown outside the building, and the boys 
had set about making beds of fir tips by the time Joe 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


37 


Brown and Eben Verrill were ready to prepare 
that meal which was to serve both as dinner and 
supper. 

Meanwhile Peter and Jonas remained apart from 
the others, discussing the situation, for both under- 
stood full well what might be the immediate result 
of thus dispossessing the strangers, although they 
had no doubts as to their rights in the premises. 

“ By the looks of the bunks there must have been 
at least six people living here, and it’s safe to say 
they are all men — ^hard customers, else they wouldn’t 
have attempted to operate in these sections without 
first making a trade with Mr. Dobson,” Scoutmaster 
Masterson said as if simply giving words to his 
thoughts, and the adjutant replied in a tone of re- 
gret: 

I believe it would have been better to go into the 
small camps until we could get word from Penob- 
scot, for it’s certain we’re bound to have a row — 
most likely a bad one.” 

‘"We can’t back down now,” Peter whispered. 

“ That’s dead certain,” Jonas replied emphatically. 
“ The other fellows believe Mr. Brown was right 
when he said it was our duty to clear the hovel, and 
if you tried to turn around now they’d set it down 
that you wasn’t the right kind of a scoutmaster.” 

“ I’ve thought of all that, and now when it’s too 
late I’ve come to believe I should have stood out 
against doing anything in the way of asserting our 


38 BOY SCOUTS 

rights, until we could hear from Mr. Dobson. Now 
we’re in ” 

Peter did not finish the sentence, for at that in- 
stant came a loud shout from the distance, and those 
lads who had been industriously gathering fir tips 
ran hastily to the hovel. 

There’s a gang of men coming this way, and it 
looks as if they were feeling mighty ugly!” Sam 
Merrill announced breathlessly as he approached 
Peter and Jonas, and the scoutmaster muttered : 

It’s too late to make any change now, even if I 
was willing to take back-water. We’re bound to 
hold our own as long as we can.” Then, raising his 
voice, he cried, ‘‘ Come into the hovel, all you 
Scouts, and make certain that you’re not the first to 
start a row ! ” 

“ The squatters are coming, eh? ” Joe Brown said 
grimly when the boys promptly and hurriedly obeyed 
the scoutmaster’s command. Well, I’m allowing 
they won’t cut any monkey shines with this crowd. 
I’m the boss inside the hovel, and they’d better not 
fool with me I ” 

Peter noted the fact that Jabe Morse had closed 
the door of the stable, and from certain sounds it 
seemed positive he was barricading it, even though 
by so doing he would prevent the intruders from 
having access to their horses. There was little time 
for discussion as to what should be done. The last 
of the Boy Scouts had no more than entered the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


39 

hovel when a red- faced, angry-looking man stood in 
the doorway as he cried threateningly : 

Who’s been meddlin’ with our outfit ? What are 
you youngsters doin’ here? ” 

Although Peter had had doubts as to the wisdom 
of asserting their rights, he was prepared to carry 
out Joe Brown’s plan fully, and standing boldly in 
front of the stranger, he said sharply : 

'"We were sent in here by Richard Dobson, the 
owner of these Gray Ledge sections, and his orders 
were that we should use this hovel, as we count on 
doing.” 

“ Oh, you do, eh ? Wa’al, it strikes me that you’re 
crowin’ mighty loud for a bantam,” the man said as 
he surveyed Peter from head to foot as if amused 
rather than angry. So you count that you can turn 
us out of this hovel, eh? ” 

That’s what we have done,” Scoutmaster Mas- 
terson replied, striving to prevent a tremor from 
being perceptible in his voice, and we count on 
keeping you out, according to orders.” 

“ Have you had orders to turn us out ? ” the man 
asked threateningly, and at this moment a second 
stranger came up, craning his head over the other’s 
shoulder in order to get a glimpse of those who pro- 
posed to dispossess them. 

‘‘We had orders to come into this hovel for the 
winter, and we know that Mr. Dobson hasn’t given 
you permission to work on his sections.” 


40 


BOY SCOUTS 


It strikes me that you know a good deal for a 
chap of your size/’ the man said angrily ; but at the 
same time Peter noted that he was holding back the 
comrade behind him, to prevent his forcing an en- 
trance. “ Do you have any reason for not tellin’ 
us who you are that count on takin’ so much on 
yourselves ? ” 

We’re the Boy Scouts of Penobscot, and have 
been sent here by the owner of these sections to cut 
ties this winter,” Peter replied promptly if not 
proudly, and both the men laughed derisively. 

‘'Boy Scouts, eh? Wa’al, that’s a new one on 
me! Seems like you believed it was quite a game, 
an’ that you could play your hand. So far you’ve 
had your own way, seein’s how there wasn’t any 
one here to block it; but now things have changed, 
an’ if you’ve got any care for your own skin, Mr. 
Boy Scout of Penobscot, you’ll take a mighty quick 
slide. I’m givin’ you jest five minutes to get your 
duffle out’er this hovel an’ put ours back as you 
found it, or ” 

“ Well, what is the 'or’ ? ” Joe Brown asked 
sharply as he forced his way through the throng of 
boys until he stood in full view of the strangers. 
“ I don’t seem to have run across you two pirates 
before, although I’ve cooked for woodpeckers in 
this ’ere neighborhood a good many years, so Fm 
allowing that you mistook the trail. These sections 
belong to Richard Dobson of Penobscot — perhaps 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


41 

you’ve heard of him, and we’re in charge, do you 
mind that? ” 

Before the cook had ceased speaking four other 
men had come up and were pressing against the 
spokesman of the party as if bent on forcing an en- 
trance, while one of them said in ugly fashion : 

'' What’s the sense in chinnin’ a crowd of babies, 
Dick? Let me in at ’em, an’ I’ll soon cut their 
combs.” 

The man who had been acting as spokesman fell 
back two or three paces as if to give his comrade the 
desired opportunity, and Peter felt certain that be- 
fore many seconds had elapsed the Scouts would be 
engaged in a rough-and-tumble fight to maintain 
their rights, or be thrown bodily out from the hovel; 
but the cook had a different idea on the subject. 

An ax which he had been using to split wood 
stood near the door, and, seizing this, Joe Brown 
raised it above his head as he shouted angrily : 

“ I’m here under contract to Richard Dobson, or 
to these lads, which is the same thing, seeing’s how 
they’re operating for him, and I give fair warning 
that the first of the gang that comes into this hovel 
till I say the word, will need to be dragged out I ” 


CHAPTER lY 


BESIEGED 

It seemed much as if the intruders were surprised 
at learning that there was a man among the com- 
pany of boys, for immediately Joe Brown appeared 
with upraised ax they fell back half a dozen paces, 
and stood gazing at him in astonishment. 

“ Didn’t you hear what I said ? ” Brown cried, ad- 
vancing as the men retreated. ‘‘ I’ve worked in these 
’ere woods too long not to know my rights, and I’m 
telling you that you’re breeding a good bit of trouble 
for yourselves by trespassing on these cuttings. 
Richard Dobson ain’t the kind of a man to lay down 
quietly when his property is being stolen! ” 

Who’s stealin’ ? ” the foremost of the men asked 
sulkily. 

“ It looks mightily as if that was what you were 
getting ready to do, else why such an outfit ? ” 

‘‘ I may not have been born in the woods, as you 
claim to have been,” the fellow said with a feeble 
attempt at laughing in derision ; “ but I’ve never 
before heard that them as are travelin’ over wild 
lands can’t take shelter in an empty hovel without 
bein’ accused of stealin’.” 


42 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


43 


If you came here simply for shelter while on the 
trail, what is the meaning of all that duffle ? and 
the cook pointed to the outfit which had been thrown 
from the hovel. 

“ That’s none of your business,” and now the in- 
truder was losing his temper. “ We’ve got the right 
to camp here, an’ bring with us whatever we please ; 
don’t forget that! If you an’ your baby scouts, as 
they call themselves, try to play the high an’ mighty, 
there’s bound to be trouble, an’ we ain’t the ones 
who’ll get the worst of it.” 

I’m not so sure of all that,” Mr. Brown replied 
quietly as he lowered the ax but kept a sharp watch 
over the movements of the men. ‘‘ In the first place 
you haven’t the smell of a right to camp down on a 
section without consent of the owner. Then again 
you’ve started in to drive this crew off, when all 
hands are acting under Dobson’s orders. As to who 
will get the worst end of the trouble. I’m not bother- 
ing my head, and you can count it as certain that 
we’ll hold this ’ere hovel from now on.” 

‘‘ I reckon you think it’s all right to mitten on to 
our bosses, eh ? ” 

“We don’t want ’em; but then again we don’t 
count on turning our own beasts out of doors,” the 
cook said grimly, and, raising his voice, he shouted, 
“Jabe! Turn those strange horses loose! You 
needn’t be afraid of opening the door, for I’m right 
here on my job.” 


44 


BOY SCOUTS 


As he ceased speaking the cook advanced toward 
the door of the stable, holding his ax menacingly, 
and one of the intruders shouted warningly : 

Don’t take the chances of turnin’ our bosses out, 
or there’ll be the biggest kind of a scrimmage ! How 
do we know that you’ve been sent here by the man 
you call Dobson ? ” 

“ Run down to Seboois, and you’ll soon find out 
how we stand,” Brown replied, and at the same in- 
stant the door of the stable was opened, disclosing 
Jabe Morse, who held a stout stake ready to strike a 
blow in his own defense. 

Turn the horses loose, and don’t waste your 
time listening to what these pirates have to say ! ” 
the cook cried peremptorily, and now it was that 
Scoutmaster Masterson decided the moment had 
come when the Boy Scouts should do their share in 
guarding the hovel. Seizing an ax from among 
half a dozen which had been brought into the build- 
ing, he ranged himself by the side of Joe Brown, 
Jonas and Eben quickly following his example. 

It cannot be said whether the intruders were 
alarmed at seeing that there was a second man in the 
company, or if the stand taken by the Boy Scouts 
convinced them that it would not be safe to give 
battle just at that moment; but certain it is they 
made no effort to prevent Jabe Morse from obeying 
the cook’s command, and the horses were turned 
out of the stable without any further word of warn- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


45 


ing or remonstrance. After this had been done Jabe 
closed the door and was about to barricade it again, 
when the cook cried : 

“ Don’t be afraid that these pirates will try any 
funny business; but come into the hovel with us.” 

ril stay where I am,” the teamster replied 
grimly. “ These ’ere bosses belong to me, an’ 
I ain’t waitin’ for Richard Dobson to take a 
hand in the row, but allow to look after ’em my- 
self.” 

To this Joe Brown made no reply, and was on the 
point of re-entering the hovel to continue his prepa- 
rations for supper, when the man who had acted as 
spokesman for the intruders cried angrily : 

“ I want you to understand, you bloomin’ cook, 
-that you can’t ride over me in this fashion! We’ve 
got no means of knowin’ whether the owner of this 
’ere section sent you in here, or if you’re makin’ a 
big bluff, consequently we count on holdin’ our 
own.” 

Oh, you do, eh? Well, how do you count on 
setting about it ? ” Brown asked as he paused for an 
instant on the threshold of the door. 

We’re goin’ to make it so hot for you an’ your 
baby gang that you’ll wish you’d never poked your 
nose inter these ’ere cuttin’s.” 

'' Don’t waste any time doing it,” the cook replied 
derisively, “ because there’s no knowing what we 
may do. I’m not allowing to stop here chinning with 


46 


BOY SCOUTS 


such as you when there's work to be done, so you’ll 
have to excuse me.” 

Then Joe Brown, calling Eben to assist him, set 
about cooking supper with an air of unconcern as 
to what the intruders might do ; but the scoutmaster 
and his adjutant continued to stand guard at the 
door of the hovel ready to repel any attack, until the 
strangers, after leading their horses to the stream, 
disappeared from view, leaving all their outfit near 
the dingle where it had been thrown by the scouts. 

It begins to look as if they’d come to believe that 
this isn’t a very healthy place for them,” Jonas said 
in a tone of satisfaction as he replaced his weapon 
in the hovel. 

‘‘Do you have any idea that they’ve given up 
beaten?” Peter asked grimly, and the adjutant re- 
plied : 

“ It surely looks like it, else why didn’t they rush 
us when the horses were turned loose? ” 

“ I wish they had, for then we’d have known just 
what they counted on doing. As it is now, they’ve 
left us guessing, for it doesn’t stand to reason that 
men like them are going quietly away leaving all this 
outfit behind them. Suppose you stay here on watch, 
while I have a talk with Mr. Brown.” 

“ Go ahead ; I can take care of this end of the 
hovel while it’s light enough to see what’s going on ; 
but after dark it may be another matter ” 

Eben interrupted the conversation by coming to 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


47 

the door with a couple of buckets in his hands, say- 
ing laughingly as he passed the scoutmaster : 

“ It’s the cookee of this gang who gets all the hard 
work, and it seems to me that some of the other fel- 
lows might lend a hand when there’s wood to be cut, 
or water brought.” 

So they shall, Eben,” Peter said cheerily, and 
I’ll set the example by helping out on the water 
business.” 

The scoutmaster seized two spare buckets and fol- 
lowed the cookee until they were within a dozen 
yards of the spring that fed the brook, when came 
a hoarse cry from the thicket near at hand : 

‘‘ Get back to the hovel, you cubs ! We’ve camped 
here, an’ don’t allow to have any of your gang 
hangin’ ’round.” 

"‘We haven’t come to kick up a row, but simply to 
get some water,” Peter replied in a friendly tone, 
and would have continued on toward the spring but 
that two of the men barred his way. 

“ Go back, I tell you ! ” one of them shouted. “If 
you or any of your babies take water from this 
spring, I’ll know the reason why ! ” 

Scoutmaster Masterson hesitated while one might 
have counted ten, and then turned toward the hovel. 
He realized that as leader of the Boy Scouts it was 
his duty to take on himself the greater part of any 
danger which might menace ; but at the same time he 
knew full well that he and Eben could not hope to 


48 


BOY SCOUTS 


prevail against half a dozen men who were evidently 
in the humor to do mischief. 

“ We’ll see what Mr. Brown has to say about it,” 
Peter said to Eben as he led the way back to the 
hovel, and, overhearing him, one of the men cried 
threateningly : 

‘‘ You can tell your man Brown from us that he’s 
come to an end of his rope. We’re takin’ charge of 
matters from this on ! ” 

“Won’t let you have any water, eh?” the cook 
cried in a rage when the boys reported to him. 
“ Those fellows stand a good chance of raising a 
sore on their heads, for I wasn’t born in the woods 
to be scared by owls.” 

While speaking he seized an ax and went toward 
the stable, followed by Peter and Eben, while the 
other Scouts clustered near the hovel door uncertain 
as to just what might be expected of them. 

“ Leave five or six of your fellows to stand guard 
here, Peter,” he said, halting for an instant in the 
dingle. “ It may be that those villains count on 
rushing the camp when we go to the spring. If they 
should come, don’t spend too much time trying to 
stand them off, but yell for all you’re worth so’s to 
give the alarm. Tell off four of your Scouts to fol- 
low me, Peter, and we’ll take Jabe with us. Don’t 
forget the axes; I’m not counting that we’ll really 
need ’em, but they’ll make a good show to back up 
the talk I’m going to make.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


49 


Peter did as he was commanded, leaving Jonas at 
the hovel to take charge of those on guard, and in 
the meantime Mr. Brown was arguing with Jabe 
Morse, for the teamster was not at first disposed to 
leave his horses unguarded. 

“ The beasts, as well as all hands of us, must have 
water, and we’re bound to get it before dark, so 
come along. The boys will give an alarm in time 
for us to get back before any mischief has been done, 
if so be those pirates try to be funny.” 

The result of the cook’s efforts was that two men 
and four boys, all armed with axes and carrying four 
buckets between them, marched down to the spring, 
there to find themselves confronted by all six of the 
intruders, who, so Peter believed, were more than 
willing to engage in a rough-and-tumble fight. 

‘‘Fill your buckets, boys, and if one of these cheap 
skates so much as lifts his hands against you. I’ll do 
a bit of cutting that won’t need hospital treatment,” 
Brown said sharply as he advanced within two or 
three paces of the strangers, standing between them 
and the spring, while Jabe Morse ranged himself 
within easy striking distance. 

“We may as well have it out now as any time, an’ 
we’ll see what this imitation cook can do,” one of 
the men cried, stepping forward, and Joe Brown 
said grimly : 

“ Make a single move toward stopping these boys 
from getting water, and I’ll do all I’ve threatened ! ” 


50 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ Have you any idee that you can ride roughshod 
over us with never a scrap of writin’ to show that 
you’ve got more right here than we ? ” 

‘‘I’m not bothering my head about anything of 
the kind. What I want is water, and that I’m going 
to have if it costs the fight of my life. You men are 
taking big chances in trying to play such a hand as 
you’ve laid out, for we’re under orders from the 
owner of these ’ere sections, and will be held harm- 
less for whatever happens in the course of a tussle.” 

While he was speaking Eben and Peter had filled 
the four buckets, and Jabe Morse said in a whisper: 

“ Get along to the hovel ; water my bosses, an’ 
then come back for more while we hold the fort. 
There’s no good reason why we should make more 
than one job of this business.” 

The scoutmaster and the cookee obeyed hurriedly, 
and when they returned with empty buckets the situ- 
ation appeared to be unchanged. The strangers 
were standing in threatening attitudes in front of 
Joe Brown and Jabe, but did not venture to begin a 
battle when the boys filled the buckets once more. 

“ I reckon that’ll be enough for to-night,” Joe 
Brown said as he wheeled about to follow the water 
carriers, “ and now you wooden-headed pirates, bear 
in mind that it won’t be safe to fool around here 
very long! You can come after your outfit; but if 
you show your heads within shooting distance of 
the hovel from then on. I’m going to make consider- 


IN A LUMBER GAME 


SI 

able trouble without waiting for you to strike the 
first blow.” 

The strangers made no reply, and the little com- 
pany of water carriers and guards marched back 
unmolested to their quarters, Peter asking the cook 
when they were inside the hovel once more : 

Do you suppose those fellows will dare to kick 
up any more of a row, Mr. Brown ? ” 

I can’t seem to make head or tail of the matter,” 
the cook said with an air of perplexity. Fve been 
knocking around this section of the country a good 
many years, and never run up against anything of 
the kind before. It seems as if they must have some- 
thing up their sleeves that we don’t count on, else 
they wouldn’t stand the chance of rubbing Richard 
Dobson’s fur the wrong way.” 

** Then you believe we’ll have more trouble with 
them ? ” Peter insisted, and Mr. Brown replied 
gravely : 

‘‘I’m allowing that it stands us in hand to keep a 
bright look-out from this on, for even if they count 
on leaving these cuttings right away, they’ll try to 
hit us a clip before going. It appears as if we’d 
struck a tougher gang than usually hangs out in this 
neighborhood.” 

“ What about sending word to Mr. Dobson? ” 

“ I’m allowing that’s what ought’er be done ; but 
I’m only the cook in this camp, and consequently 
don’t reckon on taking command. Dobson did all 


52 


BOY SCOUTS 


his business with the scoutmaster, and he’ll expect 
that officer to run things,” 

“ Meaning that I’m the one to say what shall be 
done?” 

“ That’s the size of it. I’m ready to back you in 
anything, but don’t allow to interfere between you 
and Richard Dobson.” 

Then it was, with an expression of deepest anxiety 
on his face, that Scoutmaster Masterson held a 
private interview with his adjutant, beginning the 
conversation by stating that it was his purpose to go 
back to Seboois that very night. 

You mustn’t leave the Scouts, Peter,” Jonas 
said earnestly. “ It is your duty to stay here, more 
particularly since there’s a chance of our having 
trouble. I’m the one who should go to Seboois.” 

After some considerable argument Peter realized 
that Jonas was in the right, and then he would have 
selected some other Scout to carry the information 
of what was taking place at Gray Ledge, but that the 
adjutant held firmly to his belief. 

“ It can’t be you, because your duty is here, there- 
fore it must be I, and the sooner I make a start the 
better,” Jonas said in a tone which admitted of no 
argument. 

“ You won’t be able to tramp nine more miles 
over the Gray Ledge trail until after having had a 
rest, Jonas.” 

I can do it better now than two hours later, 


IN A LUMBER CAME 


S3 


and, besides, I’d rather leave here early and tvhile it 
is dark, because there’s no telling what that crowd of 
toughs might do if they knew I’d started off to send 
Mr. Dobson word.” 

‘‘ You can’t get him on the ’phone until morning,” 
Peter suggested, and Jonas replied grimly : 

According to the way I feel, I shan’t be in Se- 
boois much before daylight. The Gray Ledge trail 
isn’t the easiest I ever saw, even when the sun is 
shining, and for a tired fellow to tackle at night it’s 
likely to be a long job.” 

“ I’m more than willing to go in your stead,” 
Scoutmaster Masterson interrupted eagerly, and the 
adjutant replied with a smile : 

‘‘ I know all that, Peter, and would be glad to 
have you tackle the job; but your duty is here, and 
mine to go, for of course we can’t ask any of the 
others to do what we’re not willing to put through. 
I’ll tell Mr. Dobson exactly what has happened, and 
he’ll see to it that some one with authority is sent 
from Seboois to show these fellows that they’ve 
barked up the wrong tree.” 

‘‘ Don’t try to come directly back, Jonas; but give 
yourself a long resting spell. We can hold our own 
here if we don’t do any other work, and you can’t 
put another tramp of nine miles on the end of eigh- 
teen without first getting some sleep.” 

‘‘ You needn’t be afraid that I shall do anything 
rash,” the adjutant replied laughingly. ‘‘ I’ll go to 


54 


BOY SCOUTS 


bed all right as soon as I have had a talk with Mr. 
Dobson, and most likely Jim Haley will send some 
one out here in a hurry.'' 

Then it was that the scoutmaster informed the 
cook of what it was proposed should be done, and 
that he heartily agreed with the plan was shown 
when he said emphatically : 

That’s your only course, lad. I’m not saying 
that we couldn’t tire these pirates out; but it would 
take time, and it stands you Boy Scouts in hand to 
get at the work of tie-cutting as soon as possible. 
Wait till I have given you a hearty supper, Jonas, 
and then Jabe and I will see to it you have a chance 
to sneak off secretly.” 


CHAPTER V, 


MR. DOBSON^S DECISION 

The Scouts soon came to understand what was 
afoot, even though the adjutant and the scoutmaster 
held their peace regarding the laborious, if not dan- 
gerous, task about to be undertaken by Jonas. Had 
the boys been in total ignorance of all that had hap- 
pened in the vicinity of the hovel up to that mo- 
ment, they would have known that Master Hanson 
was on the point of undertaking something out of 
the usual course, because the cook and the cookee 
gave him all their attention, regardless of the fact 
that the other members of the company were quite as 
hungry as he. 

Jabe Morse, who had been summoned from the 
stable by Eben, stood behind the adjutant as the lat- 
ter ate the food which had been so hastily prepared, 
watching his every movement as if believing that 
by much attention he was aiding in the proposed un- 
dertaking. Scoutmaster Masterson sat at the rude 
table by the side of the adjutant, whispering earn- 
estly throughout the entire meal, while Joe Brown 
55 


BOY SCOUTS 


56 

flitted here and there nervously until Jonas ceased 
eating. Then the cook said in a low tone to Peter : 

'' I reckon you’d better let Jabe and me start 
Jonas off, ’cause it must be done cautious-like, and 
if you undertake the job all the Boy Scouts will be at 
your heels.” 

Do you believe you can get him away without 
letting those men know what you’re doing ? ” 

We’ll make a try for it, lad, and if we fail it’ll 
be because the pirates have the longest heads. You 
and Eben stay right here in the hovel so’s to make 
sure none of the boys show themselves on the out- 
side. Better set two to guarding the stable door, 
with orders to give an alarm in case those fellows 
try any funny business, and we’ll get right on our 
job, for the sooner your adjutant starts the sooner 
he’ll show up in Seboois, though I’m counting that 
he won’t get through before daylight.” 

It’ll be a hard pull for him,” Peter said half to 
himself, and Joe Brown added grimly: 

‘‘ There’s a hard job ahead of all hands if you 
make a profit on the contract here at Gray Ledge, 
and before next January I’m allowing Jonas won’t 
be the only one who’ll know what it is to be tired.” 

By this time the adjutant had risen from the table, 
thus showing that he was ready to begin the long, 
wearisome journey, and without delay Joe Brown 
and Jabe Morse beckoned for him to follow as they 
led the way out of the hovel into the stable. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


57 


‘‘ Why have they gone in there? ” Eben asked of 
the scoutmaster in a whisper. “ Is Jonas counting 
on riding one of the horses? ’’ 

Peter looked puzzled for an instant, and then, his 
face brightening, he replied : 

“ I reckon they count on going out through the 
old door that opens toward the small camps. We 
must see to it that the logs which hold it in place are 
put back after they have started, else those men 
may sneak in that way to do some harm to the 
horses.’’ 

The scoutmaster went toward the door of the 
hovel as he spoke, and on the instant every Scout in 
the building started up as if to follow ; but he checked 
them by saying in a tone hardly louder than a whis- 
per : 

You can guess why Jonas has gone out, and it 
stands us in hand to prevent the strangers from 
knowing what is being done, else he may not be able 
to make the journey. Eben and I are going into the 
stable; after we come back Jerry Simpson and Fred 
Howe are to stand watch in the dingle so’s to give 
the alarm in case anybody comes sneaking around.” 

On the instant every fellow halted, and the scout- 
master and the cookee went out into the darkness, 
for by this time night was fully come. 

Peter had no sooner stepped out of the hovel than 
he saw moving forms near where the outfit of the 
strangers had been thrown, and in alarm he cried : 


58 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Who’s there ? What are you doing around 
here? ” 

I don’t allow that’s any of your business, you 
young cub,” was the harsh reply. We’re willing to 
tote our wangan to where we can come at it handy- 
like; but don’t run away with the idee that we’re 
settlin’ down contented. If we’re agreeable to camp- 
in’ outside one night, it doesn’t mean that you’re to 
have your own way hereabouts. Wait a bit, an’ see 
what we’re able to do.” 

‘‘ They’re moving their duffle down by the spring,” 
Eben whispered in the scoutmaster’s ear, “ and it 
won’t pay for us to interfere.” 

“ I wasn’t reckoning on doing anything of the 
kind,” Peter replied, and then he continued on to 
where the weary horses were munching their grain. 

Much to the relief of the scoutmaster and the 
cookee, the stable was empty, thus showing that 
Jonas had started on his difficult way. The props of 
logs which had held the door in place and securely 
barricaded, had been thrown. down as if in haste, and 
these the two lads set in position carefully, after 
which both went back to the hovel, finding Jerry and 
Fred on guard at the door, while in the gloom out- 
side could be seen faintly moving shadows which be- 
tokened the whereabouts of the enemy. 

Not a word was spoken when Peter and Eben re- 
entered the hovel. The Scouts were sitting in the 
bunks or on the benches waiting in anxious suspense 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


59 


the return of the cook and the teamster, and their 
silence was ample token of the nervous tension under 
which they were laboring. 

Although the two who had gone to make certain 
Jonas set off on the long tramp without interference, 
returned within ten minutes from the time of de- 
parture, it was to the Scouts as if they had been ab- 
sent a full hour, yet no question was asked until Joe 
Brown, taking up his duties as cook once more, said 
in a cheery tone : 

“ Now I reckon you Boy Scouts of Penobscot are 
about ready for something to eat, and I’ll shake this 
’ere supper together in short order.” 

‘‘ Has he gone ? ” Eben asked in a low tone as he 
stood near at hand to act the part of cookee. 

Sure thing; what do you suppose Jabe and I’d 
be doing if everything hadn’t moved along as we 
counted on? Have the pirates been quiet since we 
left?” 

Peter told of what the men were doing, and ex- 
plained that two of the Scouts were on duty as 
guards, whereupon Mr. Brown said laughingly: 

“ I allow you can call ’em off after Jabe has had 
supper. He’ll sleep with his horses this night, and 
I’m willing to go bail that there ain’t a woods pirate 
this side the Canada line that’ll get a chance to do 
mischief.” 

“ Do you believe Mr. Dobson will come here him- 
self, when Jonas has told him how matters stand? ” 


6o BOY SCOUTS 

Sam Merrill asked anxiously, and the cook replied 
gravely : 

‘‘ I'm allowing Richard Dobson won't put himself 
out to that extent, even though timber thieves are 
around. Most likely he'll send in Jim Haley with 
the constables, so take things easy and don't fret. 
We're likely to be tied up here two or three days, 
unless those pirates begin to understand that they’re 
playing a losing game and skip out, so it stands us in 
hand to make the best of it, though every day just 
now ought 'er be counting on your contract.” 

Although the boys were very hungry it was not a 
cheering meal of which they partook that night, 
Jabe and the two guards remaining outside while 
the remainder of the company were at table. It was 
only natural that the Scouts should look forward 
with anxiety to the future, knowing full well that it 
was in the power of the timber thieves to do them 
serious mischief before assistance could come from 
Seboois, for in order to make a profit on the con- 
tract, if not to save themselves from actual loss of 
money, every hour of daylight must find them at 
work. To remain idle no more than forty-eight 
hours was to invite financial disaster. 

Joe Brown, understanding what was in the minds 
of the Scouts, said all he could to encourage them, 
predicting that Jim Haley would arrive before an- 
other night had come, and with the boarding-house 
keeper, who was known *to have the confidence of 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


6i 


Richard Dobson, on the spot to make known his 
employer’s commands, it seemed certain the intrud- 
ers would speedily realize that Gray Ledge was not 
for them an agreeable abiding place. Before the last 
Scout, who was Peter Masterson, had rolled into 
his bunk, all the company were feeling less de- 
pressed, and were looking with no slight degree of 
hope to the coming of a new day. 

Under ordinary circumstances the cook would 
have aroused the crew before daylight; but on this 
morning, knowing that no work could be done, he 
waited until nearly sunrise before giving the com- 
mand, All hands turn out ! ” 

Get some of your Scouts to the spring for water, 
Peter,” Mr. Brown cried before the scoutmaster was 
fairly awake. “ Better take quite a crowd in case 
the pirates have a mind to be nasty; but see to it 
that you fill the buckets. Yell if you’re needing more 
of a force, and Jabe and I’ll come a-running.” 

The members of both patrols, without waiting for 
orders, seized buckets, pots, pans, or such utensils 
as would serve for the carrying of water, and fol- 
lowed close at the heels of the scoutmaster as he led 
the way to the spring. Arriving there, it was seen 
that the intruders had already begun to make a shel- 
ter for themselves, as if counting to remain a long 
while. , A rude lean-to of pine boughs had been put 
up near the spring, and beneath this the wangan was 
sheltered from the dew ; but the men themselves lay 


62 


BOY SCOUTS 


sprawled out on the ground around the embers of a 
fire which yet smoked feebly. 

Get what water you want on this trip, you young 
cubs,’' one of the men cried threateningly as he 
raised himself to a sitting posture. “ This is the last 
time you’ll be allowed to help yourselves, for we’re 
countin’ on holdin’ our own from this out.” 

Peter believed it prudent to make no reply, but 
saw to it that his Scouts lost no time in making ready 
for a return to the hovel. 

“Last time, eh?” Joe Brown said laughingly 
when the scoutmaster repeated to him what had been 
said. “ That pirate is making the mistake of his 
life, and ’twixt now and to-morrow night we’ll prove 
it to him.” 

“ Do you suppose Jonas is at Seboois by this 
time ? ” Eben asked anxiously. 

“ Ay, lad, I’m allowing he’s been there an hour or 
more, and sleeping his head off by this time. Rich- 
ard Dobson has given his orders over the telephone, 
and Jim Haley is hustling to beat the band, getting 
together a crowd to visit us.” 

Mr. Brown spoke in so cheery a tone that every 
lad felt confident matters at Seboois were as he pre- 
dicted, and except for the fact that two of the party 
remained on guard outside, it was as jolly a break- 
fast as if everything had been arranged to their 
satisfaction. The cook advised that the Scouts re- 
main inside the hovel during this day, explaining 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


63 

that there was no good reason why they should take 
the chances of coming in contact with the timber 
thieves before Mr. Dobson’s messengers arrived, 
and Peter gave strict orders to that effect, although 
from time to time he stole cautiously down near the 
spring to spy upon the intruders. 

“ They’re putting up a regular camp,” he reported 
after his second journey. “ It surely looks as if they 
counted on staying whether Mr. Dobson is willing 
or not. Do you suppose, Mr. Brown, that they have 
really had permission? ” 

‘‘Of course they haven’t, Peter. You don’t count 
that an old hand at the lumber business such as is 
Richard Dobson, would send two crews in on one 
section. That would make trouble all around, to 
say nothing of a waste of timber. Let ’em build 
their camp; it’ll keep the good-for-nothings out of 
mischief till nightfall, and then things will be 
changed quite a bit.” 

It was dreary work sitting idle in the hovel when 
every member of the company knew he ought to be 
ranging the section locating the supply of cedar in 
the ravines and swamps, in order that there might 
be no delay in beginning the task; but the boys 
passed the time with more or less patience until the 
lengthening shadows gave warning that another 
night was near at hand. 

The cook had served a most appetizing dinner as 
an aid toward preventing the Scouts from giving 


64 


BOY SCOUTS 


way to anxiety. No open visit had been made to the 
spring for the very good reason that water was not 
needed owing to the ample supply which had been 
brought early in the morning, and, save for Peter’s 
spying, no attention was paid to those men who 
were so seriously interfering with the carrying out 
of the lumber operator’s contract. Before three 
o’clock in the afternoon every member of the com- 
pany, including Joe Brown and Jabe Morse, was 
lounging around the outside of the hovel where could 
be had a view of the trail leading to Seboois; but 
not until nearly sunset were their eyes gladdened 
by a glimpse of one of Richard Dobson’s mes- 
sengers. 

Then Jim Haley appeared in sight, and a sup- 
pressed cheer went up from the watchers; but as the 
moments passed and no other person could be seen, 
an expression of anxiety crept over even the face of 
the sanguine Mr. Brown. 

“ Say, Peter,” and the cook turned toward the 
scoutmaster, who was close by his side, “ don’t it 
begin to look as if Jim had come alone? He must 
think we’re afraid of our own shadows, if he counts 
to straighten out this thing single-handed ! ” 

In the silence of dismay the Scouts watched the 
approach of Jim Haley until he was within easy 
hailing distance, and then, unable longer to control 
his impatience, Joe Brown cried : 

“ Where’s the rest of the crowd? ” 


IN A LUMBER CAME 65 

It’s all here, Joseph,’’ was the grim reply, and 
Haley threw himself on the ground near the cook, 
as if weary almost to exhaustion. 

'' Did Jonas show himself at Seboois and tell you 
what we were up against ? ” 

‘‘That’s what he did; got there just after day- 
break, an’ if ever I saw a fellow who was all in, it 
was that plucky little lad. He wouldn’t even rest 
his legs till he’d got Dobson over the ’phone, an’ 
then he went all to pieces. I much the same as 
stuffed a little grub down his throat ; but didn’t dare 
to keep at it very long, for he went to sleep while I 
was on the job.” 

“Why didn’t you bring the constables?” Joe 
Brown asked sharply. “ There was no sense in your 
coming alone ” 

“ I’m obeyin’ orders, same as is my business, an’ 
there won’t be any constables sent.” 

“What do you mean by that?” and now Mr. 
Brown showed signs of anger. “ Does Richard 
Dobson allow that a gang of timber thieves can come 
in on his sections while he stays at Penobscot suck- 
ing his thumbs ? ” 

“ I don’t know whether he’s countin’ on suckin’ 
his thumbs or not ; my orders were to bring a mes- 
sage to Peter Masterson, an’ I’m tryin’ to do it even 
if a bonehead of a cook does butt in.” 

“ A message for me ! ” Peter cried, leaping to his 
feet in excitement. “ What is it ? ” 


66 


BOY SCOUTS 


Dobson says/’ and Jim Haley spoke slowly, as 
if choosing his words with greatest care, that he 
let the contract of tie-cuttin’ on the Gray Ledge sec- 
tions to Peter Masterson, who calls himself scout- 
master of the Boy Scouts of Penobscot, an’ he al- 
lows that Peter Masterson had best attend to the 
business without whinin’ like a sick baby. Further- 
more, he says that if Peter Masterson can’t keep 
timber thieves off the cuttin’s, it’s time Peter Master- 
son come back to Penobscot an’ gave over the con- 
tract to them who can handle it without callin’ for 
help when a crowd of hoodlums snoop in on the sec- 
tions.” 

The scoutmaster gazed at Jim Haley in silent dis- 
may, his cheeks alternately flushing and paling, and 
Joe Brown, seemingly having lost all control of his 
temper, cried fiercely : 

“ Is that the message Richard Dobson sent ? ” 

“You can count on it as bein’ straight,” Jim 
Haley replied gravely. “ From what Jonas told me 
before he telephoned, I kind’er allowed that matters 
were a bit serious down here, so when Mr. Dobson 
called me to the ’phone an’ put it that way, as if 
he’d shoved all the responsibility on to the boy’s 
shoulders, I made him repeat his orders, me writin’ 
’em down as he spoke. Here’s jest the way I got it, 
an’ there’s no mistake made.” 

Then the boarding-house keeper handed Joe 
Brown a small sheet of paper on which was writ- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 67 

ten the substance of what he had said, looking with 
seeming pity at the scoutmaster as he did so. 

‘‘ Leaves it all to a boy, with never a word to 
Jabe or me,” the cook said half to himself as he read 
and re-read the written words. It strikes me that 
he’s putting a big pile of responsibility on the lad’s 
back, and standing off the timber thieves is what I 
call a man’s job. What do you think about it, 
Jim?” 

My orders are not to open my mouth except to 
deliver the message. If Peter told me to do any- 
thin’, I was to lend a hand, but to give no advice.” 

But it isn’t fair to leave it all to me ! ” Peter 
cried passionately. ‘‘If Mr. Dobson had sent a 
gang of men in here, he’d precious soon hurry the 
constables from Seboois to rout the timber thieves 
out, and why does he refuse to help us? Does he 
hope we’ll fail in the contract? ” 

Jim Haley shook his head mournfully, and Jabe 
Morse beckoned the cook a short distance away, 
when he whispered : 

“ You can make up your mind, Joe, that it’s jest 
like this : Richard Dobson took a mighty big liking 
to the boy last summer, an’ now by shiftin’ all the 
responsibility to Peter’s shoulders he’s tryin’ him 
out — counts on seein’ whether the scoutmaster can 
get through a tight place with no one to help him.” 

The expression of anger and anxiety fled from 
Joe Brown’s face as the teamster spoke, and nod- 


68 


BOY SCOUTS 


ding his head emphatically as token that he fully 
agreed with the supposition, the cook of Gray Ledge 
camp seated himself within the shadow cast by the 
hovel as if there was no longer anything to vex him. 


CHAPTER VI 


Peter's decision 

Scoutmaster Masterson was literally over- 
whelmed by the knowledge that the lumber operator 
had thrown all the burden on him, and after the first 
outbreak it was several minutes before he had suffi- 
cient command over himself to speak. While one 
might have counted ten he stood staring incredu- 
lously at Jim Haley, and then buried his face in his 
arm as he leaned against the side of the hovel, re- 
raining there in an attitude of deepest dejection 
until Eben Verrill, laying his hand tenderly on the 
lad’s shoulder, said in a whisper : 

“ Don’t lose your courage, Peter Masterson. 
You’ll pull us through somehow, even if it does 
seem now that Mr. Dobson has given us the shake.” 

‘‘ How can a fellow help losing courage when he’s 
jumped on in this way?” Peter asked with what 
was very like a sob. Mr. Dobson knows well 
enough that we can’t drive those timber thieves 
away, if they are minded to stay, and it will serve 
him well right if they strip all the white cedar off 
these sections, though that would come mighty hard 
69 


70 


BOY SCOUTS 


on the Boy Scouts. If it hadn’t been for me you 
fellows wouldn’t have taken this contract, and now 
we stand a good chance of losing all the money we 
earned last summer.” 

Eben tried to persuade the sorrowing scoutmaster 
that if the proposition had been made to any of the 
Scouts the result would have been the same, and 
pointed out that every fellow in both patrols was 
much the same as wild with delight on hearing that 
the contract had been offered ; but it was all in vain. 
Peter insisted that he alone was responsible, not only 
for all that had happened, but for whatever of mis- 
fortune might come in the future. 

That which seemed very strange to all the boys 
was the fact that Joe Brown, who had of late been 
so friendly with Peter, neither spoke a word of con- 
solation nor offered any advice, which last was de- 
cidedly unusual, for the cook had ever been prone to 
press his opinions upon the scoutmaster even when 
they were not needed. Joe Brown, Jim Haley and 
Jabe Morse had gathered by themselves, so to speak, 
and were conversing in whispers while Peter was 
struggling with his grief and disappointment, seem- 
ingly giving no heed to what the Scouts might do. 

‘‘I wish Jonas would come back!” the scout- 
master finally cried as he suddenly turned to face his 
Scouts, each of whom was gazing at him with sym- 
pathy written plainly on his face, and Jim Haley re- 
plied in what sounded much like a careless tone : 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


71 


** I reckon it’s better for you that he’s at Seboois. 
Mr. Dobson seemed to think you could run things 
here without help from anybody, an’ I’m allowin’ 
that you’ve got as good a head on your shoulders as 
has Jonas Hanson.” 

But I haven’t ! ” Peter cried sharply. Mr. 
Dobson isn’t doing the fair thing when he leaves a 
crowd of boys to tackle a lot of timber thieves, and 
I’ll tell him so the first chance I get. The only thing 
for us to do is pull out of here before we eat up the 
whole wangan, and while we can give back to Mr. 
Mansfield some of his goods, so our loss won’t be 
quite so great.” 

Allow to give up the job without so much as a 
squeak, eh ? ” the cook said as if believing the 
matter was settled past recall. If you’d laid 
down so easy-like last summer, Peter Masterson, 
you fellows wouldn’t have this contract on your 
hands.” 

“ And we’d be so much the better off ! ” was the 
angry rejoinder. ‘‘ We stand to lose all our money, 
and be in debt to such an extent that it can’t be 
worked off for years.” 

“ You sure do if you show the white feather 
now,” and the cook spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Seems like you ought’er see some way out’er the 
snarl.” 

Tell me how we can go to work ? How is it 
possible for us to drive those fellows away? We 


72 BOY SCOUTS 

can’t do any tie-cutting while they hang around ready 
to make trouble.” 

It ain’t for me to make a stagger at trying to tell 
you,” Joe Brown said quietly. Richard Dobson 
owns these ’ere sections, and he knows jest how 
much mischief a lot of timber thieves may do, yet 
he’s putting the whole thing up to you, while at the 
same time all the Scouts are depending on your sav- 
ing ’em from running head-over-heels in debt.” 

And I can’t so much as lift a finger to do any 
good ! ” Peter wailed. 

“ Well, if you look at it in that way I reckon the 
sooner we pull out of here the better. I might ’er had 
a job with Coburn’s crew up Milford Dam way; but, 
like Richard Dobson, I put a good deal of stock in 
your being able to handle the operation. Shall we 
start now, or will I get supper and try to hold on till 
morning ? ” 

Scoutmaster Masterson turned upon the cook as if 
about to make an angry reply ; but evidently thought 
better of it, for he finally said in a tone of deter- 
mination : 

“We won’t go to-night, nor to-morrow morning. 
I’ve got all hands of you into a bad scrape, and I’ll do 
the best I know how to square matters before admit- 
ting that I’m beaten ! ” 

Jim Haley and the cook looked at each other as if 
the scoutmaster had said something which pleased 
them, and then Joe Brown called for the cookee to 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


75 


bear a hand in building a fire and making ready the 
food for supper. One by one the Scouts followed 
the two men into the hovel, bent on hearing what 
they thought of the situation, and Peter Masterson 
was left alone to struggle with a problem that seemed 
far too knotty for him to solve. With a sense of 
deepest injury in his heart the scoutmaster re- 
viewed the matter in all its bearings, never once 
having the slightest suspicion that the lumber oper- 
ator might have taken advantage of the opportunity 
to see of what stuff he was made. 

“ Those men would only laugh if I told them again 
that they had no right here, and ordered ’em off,” 
he said to himself, but speaking aloud as if in the 
sound of his own voice he found something to 
hearten him. “ It’s certain we can’t drive them 
away by force unless we send to Seboois for a sup- 
ply of guns and revolvers, and I won’t agree to any 
such work as might come of that. I wonder how 
far I ought to go in trying to hold to our rights 
here ? ” 

This was a question he could not answer; but just 
at that moment Jim Haley came out of the hovel, 
and he accepted him as judge. 

'' How far ought you to go? ” Haley repeated as 
he scrutinized the boy’s face. “ I should allow you’d 
have a right to shoot, if they refused to get off the 
sections in a reasonable length of time.” 

‘‘ I wouldn’t stand for shooting,” and Peter spoke 


74 


BOY SCOUTS 


decidedly. ‘‘No matter how much money we Scouts 
may lose, there won’t be any killing or wounding 
while Tm scoutmaster.” 

“ Oh well, if you’re leaving out the desperate part 
of it, I’d say that you were warranted in doing any- 
thing that strikes you as bein’ strong enough to drive 
those fellows away.” 

“ But suppose we broke the law — I don’t mean 
by shooting a man ; but in some such way as taking 
property that belonged to another? ” 

“If you got into trouble, no matter what, while 
trying to protect Richard Dobson’s property, I 
should say that he’d be bound to see you out of it, 
an’ there ain’t the least little doubt in my mind but 
that he’d stand right at your back.” 

“ When are you going to Seboois ? ” 

“ I allow there’s no hurry-up call for me to go to- 
night, so I reckoned I’d stay here till mornin’. A 
man don’t tackle the Gray Ledge trail twice in one 
day unless he’s drove to it mighty hard.” 

“ When you get there I wish you’d say to Mr. 
Dobson, if you can call him over the ’phone, that 
I’ve decided to stay here as long as the provisions 
hold out, whether we cut a single tie or not.” 

“ What about the timber thieves ? ” 

“ They’ve got to go, though I haven’t just made 
up my mind how I can drive them ; but one thing is 
certain, which is that they shan’t drive me.” 

“ Good for you, Peter Masterson ! ” Haley cried 


IN A LUMBER CAMR 


75 


approvingly as he laid his hand on the boy’s shoul- 
der. This here seems to be a fight where you can 
show what kind of stuff is in you, an’ I’m hopin’ 
you’ll keep your upper lip stiff no matter what 
happens.” 

I won’t weaken again, because I dragged the 
other Scouts into this mess, and it’s up to me to get 
them out of it; but just the same, it is Mr. Dobson’s 
business to attend to the timber thieves, and he 
isn’t playing fair when he puts it all on my shoul- 
ders.” 

‘‘ See here, Peter Masterson, I’ve worked for 
Dobson, on an’ off, these ten years, an’ while I’ve al- 
ways found him a hard master — one who wants the 
last cent if he has to take it out of a man’s skin, I’ve 
never known of his playing anythin’ but square. 
What he says he’ll hang to, an’ if you come up to his 
idees of what a lad ought’er be, he’ll stand behind 
you through thick an’ thin.” 

'' In this case it’ll be all thick, for I don’t see any- 
thin’ in the business while the timber thieves believe 
we can’t drive ’em away. Of course they know that 
you’ve come in from Seboois, and because no con- 
stables have been sent to back us up, they’ll feel all 
the more certain that Mr. Dobson don’t intend to 
bother his head about a few thousand feet of lum- 
ber.” 

“ I allow you’re in the right there, lad ; but it 
can’t be helped. I’ll tell Mr. Dobson you count on 


76 BOY SCOUTS 

stayin', an' are lookin' for him to back you up what- 
ever happens." 

‘‘ Don’t mention the last, Mr. Haley. Don’t say 
we’re depending on him for anything. He has left 
us here knowing all the trouble that may come, and 
if we Scouts lose the last dollar we earned, or get 
chewed up by those fellows yonder, we'll take the 
loss and the blows without trying to shift them on 
any other person." 

Again Mr. Haley called the scoutmaster a “ good* 
lad,” and again he patted him on the shoulder by 
way of encouragement, after which he went into 
the hovel, where he interrupted the cook in his work 
of getting supper by whispering in his ear what 
seemed, to the spectators, to be a long story. 

Five minutes later Peter called the Scouts out- 
side, telling each lad to bring with him an ax, and 
Joe Brown ran quickly to the door with a look of 
consternation on his face, for he feared that the 
scoutmaster might be bent on giving regular battle 
to the intruders. Peter soon set the cook’s fears at 
rest, however, for when the boys appeared, armed 
with axes, he, pointing to a clump of pines standing 
near the hovel, said with an air of authority : 

‘‘ I want all those trees down and trimmed as soon 
as it can be done. Don’t cut too far from the tops, 
for I can use anything in the shape of timber that 
has a thickness of three inches." 

Then Peter himself set the example, and in a 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


77 


twinkling the sound of chopping brought the timber 
thieves up from the spring, for they appeared to 
think that this sudden activity might concern them 
in some way. 

Get back where you claim to belong till we are 
ready to serve out your dose ! ” the scoutmaster 
cried angrily as he saw the men. ‘‘If you are will- 
ing to leave these sections, where you have no busi- 
ness in an honest way, there won’t be any trouble; 
^ but in case you try to stay, matters are going mighty 
hard.” 

“ The poor child ! ” one of the men said with a 
coarse laugh, and it was as if the scoutmaster could 
no longer control his temper, for he cried as he 
raised his ax: 

“ Come on, all you Scouts ! This is the same as 
our land, seeing that the owner set us in charge, and 
we have the right to go as far as we will in defending 
his property ! ” 

Like a small-sized whirlwind the scoutmaster 
rushed upon the intruders, all the Scouts following 
at his heels, and as a flock of frightened sheep scat- 
ter, so the timber thieves fled back to their apology 
for a camp, where they gave every indication of 
making a stand. 

“ Bring the water buckets ! ” Peter shouted per- 
emptorily. “We can’t afford to make two bites at a 
cherry, and we’ll get what water may be needed from 
now until morning.” 


78 


BOY SCOUTS 


The three men and the cookee hastened to obey 
his command, and Scoutmaster Masterson took his 
stand within a stone's throw of where the strangers 
had halted, heeding not his own danger until a two- 
foot length of fire- wood hurtled past within an inch 
of his head. 

If that had gone a finger’s width the other way, 
you’d been out of this row for good and all,” Sam 
Merrill said, his teeth literally chattering with fear ; 
but the scoutmaster seemed to have no thought of 
seeking safety by flight. Without even turning his 
head in the direction from which the missile had 
come, he knocked a pine knot from a decaying log 
near at hand, and proceeded to set it aflame by twist- 
ing a wisp of dry grass to serve as tinder. 

What are you doing with fire here in the thicket 
at this time of night ? ” Ezra Hubbard shouted in 
alarm. ‘‘ I thought it was agreed that no one would 
be allowed to kindle a blaze outside the hovel ! ” 

That was before we knew that a gang of timber 
thieves were hanging around. If those fellows make 
a move to harm us, or interfere with those who are 
carrying water. I’ll set fire to this stubble and burn 
their whole wangan ! ” 

‘‘ Have a care, my fine bantam,” one of the men 
shouted warningly. There’s a law against funny 
business like that, an’ you’ll soon get your mother’s 
fool into trouble if you keep on as you seem to have 
begun.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


79 


‘‘ There’s a law against stealing timber, or squat- 
ting on another man’s sections,” Peter retorted. I 
have authority from the owner of these cuttings to 
do as I please, so far as you are concerned, and I’ll 
fire every tree from here to Seboois before letting 
you run matters your way ! ” 

Peter, whose torch was aflame by this time, waved 
it menacingly above his head, and even Joe Brown’s 
face wore a look of concern; but Jim Haley ap- 
peared to be wonderfully well pleased. 

“ That’s the way to show what you’re made of, 
Peter Masterson ! ” he cried approvingly as he ran 
back to the hovel with two buckets full of water. 

I’m witness that Richard Dobson has left this 
business in your hands, so don’t be afraid of what 
those boneheads may say.” 

“I’m not afraid now,” Peter cried grimly, “ and 
I want the gang of pirates to understand that worse 
will follow if they hang around here very long. Let 
me know when you’ve got a full supply of water ! ” 
“ We’ve got enough now, I reckon,” Joe Brown 
replied as he filled the buckets he had been carrying. 
“ Is there anything down this way that you want 
Jim Haley or me to do? ” 

“ I’ll attend to matters here myself,” was the 
sharp reply. “If those loafers who count on steal- 
ing Richard Dobson’s timber haven’t anything more 
to say, we’ll go back to our work.” 

“ We’ll have somethin’ to say within the next 


8o 


BOY SCOUTS 


twenty-four hours, you miserable cub ! ’’ one of the 
men shouted, and Scoutmaster Masterson cried 
threateningly as he motioned for the Scouts to go 
back to the hovel : 

“ Better have a care what you say or do ! I’ve got 
a free hand on these sections, and don’t intend to 
fool away much time on such as you.” 

“ Your comb needs cuttin’, my young upstart, an’ 
I count on doin’ it in proper shape,” was the angry 
cry as the intruders backed away until hidden from 
view in the thicket where was situated their apology 
for a camp. 

To this last Peter seemingly gave no heed; but 
led his Scouts back to their work of felling trees, 
and when one and another asked what he intended 
to do with so many logs, he refused to explain, but 
evaded the question by saying : 

“ We’ll have need of them if we hold this place 
without the help of the owner.” 

We came here to cut railroad ties, not to fight,” 
Sam Merrill suggested, and the scoutmaster said con- 
fidently : 

“ We’ll cut ties all right, and I allow that we won’t 
have to do a great deal of fighting, though things 
may be rather warm for a day or two.” 

Not until Joe Brown had summoned the Scouts 
to supper for the second time did Peter give the 
word to cease work, and then he followed his com- 
rades into the hovel looking fairly well contented for 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 8i 

a lad who, but an hour previous, had seemingly been 
on the very verge of despair. 

‘‘Well?’' the cook said inquiringly when the 
boys had seated themselves at the heavily laden 
table ; but the scoutmaster gave no heed to the ques- 
tioning tone. 

“Things goin’ pretty much your way?” Jabe 
Morse asked bluntly after a brief time of silence. 

“ Not yet; but they will before many days.” 

“ What kind of a plan have you got in your head, 
lad?” 

“If it’s all the same to you fellows, I won’t say 
anything about it yet awhile. You see I haven’t 
worked it out to suit me yet, and there’s no sense in 
giving any of the crowd a chance to laugh at me.” 

“ Don’t be afraid that anybody in this crew has 
an idee of laughin’ at you, Peter Masterson,” Jim 
Haley said emphatically. “ I ain’t achin’ to know 
what you count on doin’; but when I get back to 
Seboois an’ Richard Dobson calls me up by ’phone 
to know how things are goin’ at Gray Ledge, I shall 
tfell him that the scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts of 
Penobscot is holdin’ right on to the hot end of his 
job, an’ likely to pull through without turnin’ a 
hair.” 


CHAPTER VII 


Peter’s plan 

Deep down in Peter’s heart was the hope that the 
timber thieves might come to realize that it was 
worse than useless to continue in their lawless career 
so far as Gray Ledge was concerned, now that they 
must have understood that all their doings were 
known to the owner of the land; yet he had no 
idea of abandoning the plan he had formed, at 
least until after the men had really taken their de- 
parture. 

From the time the Scouts resumed the work of 
felling and trimming trees, until the evening was so 
far advanced that it was no longer possible for him 
to labor without the aid of a lantern, the scoutmaster 
was busily engaged measuring here and there as if 
it was his purpose to build another hovel. When 
Joe Brown summoned the hungry boys to supper, 
Peter Masterson appeared to be perfectly satisfied 
with the situation, despite the fact that avowed ene- 
mies were threateningly near at hand. 

‘‘ He’ll pull this thing through all right,” the cook 
whispered to Jim Haley as Scoutmaster Masterson, 
82 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


83 

cheerful and apparently contented, took his seat at 
the table with the other boys, and the boarding-house 
keeper replied in a cautious tone : 

Pm hopin’ he will, Joe, for if he can hold off 
these timber thieves without callin’ on for help, he’ll 
stand mighty high with Dobson.” 

Before the weary and anxious boys rolled them- 
selves in their blankets for the night more than one 
questioned the scoutmaster as to his purpose; but 
Peter evaded a direct reply, insisting that it was too 
soon for him to outline his plan, since there were 
many chances that it would have to be abandoned 
before it was well begun. 

As on the previous night, two of the Scouts were 
told off to stand watch for an hour, they to be re- 
lieved by two of their comrades in turn until all had 
done an equal share of watching, and it was not yet 
nine o’clock in the evening when the hovel at Gray 
Ledge was in a state of complete repose, save as to 
the two lads who were doing guard duty. 

The darkness of night was not dispelled next 
morning when the cook aroused the company to the 
knowledge that a new day was about to begin. 
Without delay he and the cookee set about making 
ready breakfast, for Jim Haley was eager to start 
on his long tramp to Seboois. 

Didn’t you count on staying with us any 
longer? ” Peter asked, and those who heard the ques- 
tion fancied there was a certain tone of disappoint- 


84 


BOY SCOUTS 


ment in the scoutmaster’s voice because Mr. Dob- 
son’s representative was to depart so soon. 

I’m bound to get back to the house, lad,” was 
the reply, both the cook and Mr. Haley watching 
Peter keenly meanwhile. ‘‘ We’re countin’ on seein’ 
the crew that is goin’ in to the Landin’, ’twixt now 
an’ to-morrow night, an’ I must be on hand to look 
after ’em.” 

“ You had better send Jonas back, for we may be 
needing him.” 

I’m reckonin’ on meetin’ him between here an’ 
the end of the trail, else he’s more of an idler than I 
ever allowed. When a boy has had four an’ twenty 
hours in which to pull himself together, even though 
he had traveled over this blessed road twice in one 
day’s work, he ought’er be in shape for almost any- 
thin’.” 

As to this the scoutmaster made no comment, and 
when the morning meal had been eaten Jim Haley 
took his departure without further ceremony than 
that of shouting as he set forth in the mist of the 
early day: 

“ Look after yourselves, lads, an’ don’t stand for 
any funny business. Remember, Peter, that you’re 
in full charge, an’ the owner of these ’ere sections is 
bound to stand right behind whatever you may do in 
the way of runnin’ things shipshape.” 

We’ll get along all right,” was the scoutmaster’s 
cheery reply as he busied himself with measuring 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 85 

such sticks of timber as shape 

the night ^ ^ 

Within an hou r yeteP^plan became ap parent to 
all the Scouts. His first Hask was to make Eeavy 
shutters for the two windows of the hovel, and then 
the open space between the hovel and stable was 
closed in with heavy logs dove-tailed together, until 
the two buildings were made into one, so to speak. 
On that side facing the two small, unoccupied camps, 
was left a narrow opening through which a horse 
might pass, although it would possibly be at the 
expense of scratching some of the hair from his 
flanks ; but otherwise there was no means of effect- 
ing an entrance save by tearing away the heavy 
timbers. 

“ Do you count on shutting yourself in here till 
the pirates get ready to leave?” Joe Brown asked 
curiously when the work was nearly completed, just 
before noon, and the scoutmaster replied grimly : 

‘‘ I don’t reckon we’ll have to wait very long. 
Now if you can spare the time we’ll bring up more 
water, for I’m wanting enough in camp to last us 
and the horses a full twenty-four hours.” 

The cook summoned his assistant, and the scout- 
master called all the lads into line, saying when 
they were at the opening to the camp, but on the 
inside : 

“ Eben and Sam are to stay here on guard. The 
rest of the crowd will follow me. No, you needn’t 


86 


BOY SCOUTS 


take buckets ; Mr. Brown and Mr. Morse should be 
able to attend to that part of the work. You’ll 
simply do as I do when we come to the spring.” 

The Scouts were not a little puzzled when they 
left the hovel at the heels of the scoutmaster, and 
even the cook looked perplexed as he whispered to 
Jabe Morse: 

‘‘ I did think Peter was going to show some signs 
of having sand ; but this begins to look as if we were 
to play a baby game.” 

When the company approached the spring where 
could be seen the horses of the timber thieves, none 
of the enemy were in sight, and Peter said in a whis- 
per to Joe Brown : 

You and Mr. Morse are to tote water as fast 
as possible without paying any attention to what 
we Scouts are about. Now, boys,” he added, turning 
to the lads who had remained close at his heels, “ lay 
hold with me and get as much of this stuff into the 
hovel as you can before the pirates find out what 
we’re about ! ” 

As he spoke Scoutmaster Masterson seized a 
heavy box from the wangan of the intruders, and 
staggered toward the hovel at his best pace, the 
others following his example, while the cook and 
the teamster went to and fro with buckets of water, 
Joe Brown saying with a chuckle of satisfaction to 
Jabe as the two ran side by side : 

‘‘ This ’ere ain’t looking quite as much like a 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


87 

baby game as it did. Peter counts on starving the 
pirates out; but before he has finished the job I’m 
allowing that things will get real lively around this 
place.” 

'' They may drive us out for a drink before we 
starve ’em very much,” Jabe muttered, and the cook 
replied hopefully : 

I’ll see to it that we don’t waste a drop of water, 
and if the worst comes, the crowd of us ought to 
be able to rush the spring, that is, providing Peter 
don’t object to harsh measures.” 

'‘Harsh?” Jabe cried with a laugh. “I’d like 
to know what you call harsh if this ’ere plan of 
starvin’ ’em out don’t come under that head.” 

Fortunately for the success of Peter’s plan, the 
timber thieves did not consider it necessary to look 
after their goods until the moment when the Boy 
Scouts were carrying the last of the outfit into the 
hovel, and then they burst hurriedly out of the 
underbrush at a point opposite the opening in the 
barricade, where it was possible to see the lads with 
their burdens. 

While one might have counted twenty the six men 
stood silent and motionless, gazing at the Scouts as 
they filed in through the narrow opening in the 
newly erected barrier, and then the strangers started 
as with one accord toward the spring. 

“ Acting as if they were kind’er paralyzed,” Joe 
Brown chuckled. “Didn’t think we’d dare play 


88 BOY SCOUTS 

such a high hand, and it has surprised ’em consid- 
erably.” 

Up with these logs, boys ! ” Peter cried as he 
pointed to the heavy timbers which he had intended 
for what might have been called a door. “ Stand 
them on end, and then slip two others across to hold 
them in place.” 

“ Here comes Jonas ! ” Eben cried when the last 
of the timbers were being put in place, and the 
laborers waited until the adjutant had opportunity 
to squeeze through the narrow opening, after which 
the barricade was complete. 

The task was finished none too soon, for before 
Jonas had time to ask the meaning of this new 
move, the timber thieves were in front of the hovel 
displaying every token of anger. 

“ Stole our wangan, eh ? ” one of the men 
shouted in a rage. ‘‘ You babies need to be mighty 
careful of your mothers’ darlings, or they’ll be in a 
hole that can’t be crawled out of very easy. Throw 
our duffle out, or we’ll wipe the earth up with 
you ! ” 

“ We’ll keep what we’ve got,” Peter replied plac- 
idly. “We tried to make you understand that you 
had no rights here; but it wasn’t any use, so we’ve 
taken what seems to be our best chance to get rid of 
you.” 

“ Do you count on stealin’ our wangan ? ” 

“ We’ve taken possession of it, if that’s what you 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


mean, and it won’t be given up till we have good 
reason to believe you’re ready to tote it off these sec- 
tions.” 

I’ll have the whole gang of you in jail ’twixt 
now an’ mornin’ ! ” the man cried, coming within 
a few feet of the barricade, and Peter replied, still 
speaking in a friendly tone : 

“ Until then you’ll be mighty careful not to come 
within reach of our weapons, for we intend to hold 
all we’ve got and at the same time keep you at a 
proper distance. You know that we were sent in to 
these cuttings by the owner of the land, and his 
orders are for us to drive you out. We don’t want 
a regular fight, although all hands are ready for it 
if there’s no other way of getting rid of you, and 
the easiest plan seems to be starving you out.” 

“ Don’t be too certain that can be done, you cub ! ” 
the fellow cried savagely, and at that moment his 
comrades dragged him back, whispering meanwhile 
in his ear, until to the surprise of those in the hovel 
the ' six men disappeared within that camp on the 
opposite side of the trail which had been used as 
sleeping quarters by the Boy Scouts the summer 
previous. 

“That’s one trick for them!” Joe Brown cried 
as if in dismay. “ We have been chumps not to 
understand that they might take possession of the 
huts!” 

An expression very like that of fear came over 


BOY SCOUTS 


90 ^ 

Peter’s face. As a mrffter of course he had known 
that the intruders might take possession of the huts 
without difficulty, for no steps had been taken to 
prevent them from so doing; but those two small 
camps, until the summer just past, had been used 
only by the owner of the sections and his clerks; 
the idea that any one would dare to occupy them 
without express permission had never entered the 
mind of the scoutmaster. 

“ I don’t know that they are any better off for 
taking up their quarters there, than at the spring, 
except that they can keep us well in view,” Master 
Masterson said after a brief pause. ‘‘ The only dif- 
ference is that we must make a door on the other 
side so it will be possible for us to go after water 
without being seen.” 

“ But tell me what you are trying to do? ” Jonas 
demanded, for he, having been in camp only a few 
moments, could get no idea of Peter’s plan. 

“I set out to starve them into leaving these sec- 
tions,” the scoutmaster replied thoughtfully, ‘‘<^nd 
haven’t yet come to believe that it can’t be done, 
though they’ve mixed things just a bit by taking 
possession of the huts. Did you have any talk with 
Mr. Dobson ? ” 

“ I suppose Mr. Haley told you what he said yes- 
terday. This morning before daylight he called 
me up to know what was being done, and said again 
that you were in full charge of these sections.’^ 


IN A LUMBER CAMR 


91 

Didn’t offer to send any constables to drive the 
timber thieves away? ” 

“ He said it wasn’t for him to interfere ; if you 
couldn’t manage the business the sooner the Boy 
Scouts threw up the contract the better.” 

“ It looks as if he was hoping we would do that 
same thing,” Peter i^aid bitterly; ‘‘but we’ll show 
him that we’re not to be frightened so easily.” 

“ But you can’t have a regular fight with those 
men,” Jonas added apprehensively. “If they per- 
sist in staying here, and Mr. Dobson refuses to lend 
a hand, then of course it’s a case of our throwing up 
the contract.” 

“ I won’t do that if I have to stay here alone 
without any water to^drink until snow comes,” was 
the dogged reply, and although Joe Brown had 
viewed the occupancy of the huts by the intruders 
with something like fear as to the result, he laid his 
hand heavily on the scoutmaster’s shoulder as he 
said approvingly: 

“ Good for you, Peter Masterson ! That’s the 
way to talk! You’re in what looks to be a bad 
mix-up ; but so long as you can keep your upper lip 
stiff there’s a chance of pulling out with flying col- 
ors. What are the orders now ? ” 

“ We’re to do nothing until those fellows make a 
move, except to arrange it so we can leave the hovel 
without being seen. Between now and to-morrow 
morning we’ll have a chance of seeing how the 


92 


BOY SCOUTS 


timber thieves can worry along on air, for weVe 
got all their wangan.” 

Then Joe Brown set about cooking an appetizing 
dinner, with Eben to assist him, and the Boy Scouts, 
who by this time had come to have great faith in 
the ability of their scoutmaster, were inclined to 
enjoy themselves without undue care as to the fu- 
ture. Jonas told of his tramp to Seboois, when he 
was so leg-weary that it did not seem possible he 
could finish the journey, and repeated again and 
again the words spoken over the ’phone by Richard 
Dobson; but all this without disturbing the Scouts 
very much, perhaps because Peter appeared so con- 
fident he would win the odd fight without aid from 
others. 

While the Scouts were enjoying what was more 
like a regular feast than a dinner for tie-cutters, one 
of the company stood watching at the crevices of 
the door in the dingle, reporting from time to time 
that the enemy had not appeared outside the hut in 
which refuge had been taken. Before the meal 
was at an end Joe Brown, unable longer to restrain 
his curiosity, and fearful lest Peter might be worsted 
in the fight, asked curiously : 

“ How long do you count on being penned up in 
here, Mr. Scoutmaster?” 

We’ll get to work this afternoon,” Peter replied 
in a matter-of-fact tone, much to the surprise of all 
the company, more than one of whom asked what 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


93 


he counted on being able to do while the timber 
thieves, who, quite naturally, must be smarting un- 
der the loss of their wangan, were ready at hand to 
make mischief. 

“ I don’t intend to let them interfere with us now 
that we’re fixed to defend ourselves,” the scout- 
master said as he rose from the table. Mr. Brown 
and Mr. Morse should be able to hold this hovel 
even if those fellows make a regular attack, which 
I don’t allow they will dare to do, and meanwhile 
we’ll mark out our cedar and get ready for swamp- 
ing.” 

It would have pleased the majority of the com- 
pany better to have waited inside the hovel to learn 
what the intruders counted on doing ; but when such 
a plan was proposed to the scoutmaster he replied in 
a decisive tone : 

** We came out here to cut ties, and have already 
lost too much time if we count on making money 
out of the contract. Now we’ll get to work, and it 
will be the worse for those fellows if they try to 
stop us. It’s a case of buckling right down to it 
from this out.” 

But suppose the men interfere?” Jabe Morse 
asked. I’m free to admit that the loss of their 
wangan is enough to hair them up quite a bit, an’ 
it’s reasonable to guess that they’re ready for mis- 
chief.” ^ 

“ So are we, and we’ll see who can make the most 


94 


BOY SCOUTS 


out of a mix-up/’ Peter replied grimly as he se- 
lected an ax from the collection near the door of 
the hovel, and made his way outside as he glanced 
over his shoulder to see how many were following. 

It must be confessed that several of the Boy 
Scouts hung back, not relishing what seemed to be 
an invitation for the timber thieves to make an at- 
tack; but the scoutmaster continued on, going out 
by the door which was in full view of those in the 
small hut, as if there was nothing near at hand to 
cause him annoyance. As a matter of fact the re- 
mainder of the company could do no less than follow 
the leader, and even Joe Brown was surprised be- 
cause no attempt, either by act or speech, was made 
by the intruders to prevent the beginning of the 
work. 

Peter had mapped out in his mind, sometime be- 
fore the Scouts left Penobscot, just how he would 
begin operations, and now he followed the plans al- 
ready made. All the ravines and swamps in the 
vicinity of the hovel were visited, and to this or 
that couple of boys the scoutmaster assigned the 
several places for work, until every member of the 
two patrols knew exactly where he should begin 
chopping on the following morning. 

“ It’s a case of turning to in dead earnest as soon 
as sunrise,” Master Masterson said as he led his 
company back to the hovel when the shadows of 
night were lengthening. 


IN A LUMBER CAME 


95 


And what about the timber thieves ? ’’ Sam Mer- 
rill asked, whereupon the scoutmaster replied curtly : 

“We have nothing to do with those fellows unless 
they kick up a row, and Fm not much afraid they’ll 
try anything funny.” 

From that time until the boys rolled into their 
bunks, leaving two of their number on guard as 
during the previous night, Peter did not allow the 
conversation to drift away from the business of tie- 
cutting, and those who would have speculated as 
to what it might be possible for the enemy tb do, 
had no opportunity of exciting their own or others’ 
fears. 

It seemed to the scoutmaster as if he had no 
more than really lost himself in slumber, when he 
was aroused by Jonas Hanson, who had been stand- 
ing the second hour-watch, and heard the startling 
announcement as he sprang to his feet: 

“ Those men have built three or four fires at 
the end of the stable, counting to smoke us out! 
One of the huts has just burst into a blaze ! ” 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE CONFLAGRATION 

During perhaps ten seconds Scoutmaster Master- 
son stood by the side of his bunk blinking in the 
long shafts of yellow light which came through the 
crevices between the logs, and then he darted, rather 
than ran, to that barricaded portion of the dingle 
which served as door, where Fred Howe, who had 
been on watch with Jonas, stood as if in a daze. 

“ Pull away these logs ! ” Peter cried as he suited 
the action to the words. Why are you standing 
here when all hands of us should be fighting the 
fire?^^ 

Pd like to know what we can fight it with ? ’’ 
Fred said grimly as he obeyed the scoutmaster’s com- 
mand. Do you allow that we can bring water 
enough from the spring to make any headway 
against the flames ? ” 

'‘We can make a try at it, which will be better 
than standing idle while the hovel goes up in smoke. 
Call Mr. Morse ; he’s the one who should be looking 
after the horses.”. 

" See here, Peter, are you counting on going out- 
96 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


97 

side alone? ’’ Fred asked, making no move to arouse 
the teamster. 

‘‘ Why not? ” 

Because those timber thieves started this fire, of 
course, and it stands to reason they’re waiting 
around somewhere near, ready to jump on us.” 

“ Let ’em jump,” was the impatient reply. I’m 
going out to see what can be done, and it’ll go 
hard with anybody who tries to make trouble for 
me.” 

Peter had taken up an ax as he spoke, and wait- 
ing only long enough to repeat the command that 
Jabe Morse should be awakened without loss of 
time, he crawled through the opening which had 
been made by the removal of three or four logs. 

By this time all the company, even including the 
teamster, were keenly aware of the situation, for 
Jonas had made it his business to arouse every one in 
the hovel immediately after he awakened the scout- 
master. 

Jabe Morse ran with all speed to the stable, think- 
ing only of his horses, and Joe Brown called after 
him warningly : 

Have a care, Jabe ! It may not be safe to go out 
brashly, for I allow that the pirates are hanging 
’round somewhere in the shadows, counting to get 
square with us for toting off their wangan ! ” 

“ Do you reckon I’d stay idle an’ let my bosses 
burn to death no matter if there were a hundred 


98 


BOY SCOUTS 


timber thieves waitin’ to jump on me when I got 
out? The man who lays a finger on me while I’m 
lookin’ after my property is goin’ to get as stiff a 
dose as I can put up. Say,” he cried over his shoul- 
der as he ran out of the hovel, some of you boys 
must help pull down them logs so’s the beasts can 
get through.” 

Jonas did not wait to see what the others pro- 
posed to do. Peter was outside alone, and he be- 
lieved him to be in danger from the intruders; 
therefore, like the true friend that he was, the ex- 
scoutmaster ran with all speed to lend his chief what 
might be much-needed aid. 

The fire had fastened upon the stable and one of 
the huts with remarkable rapidity; it was as if both 
those buildings were wrapped in flames when Jonas 
got outside, and he knew full well that there was 
no hope of their being able to save Richard Dobson’s 
property. 

Although he was keenly alive to his own and 
Peter’s danger from those who had started the fire, 
the one great thought in his mind was that this con- 
flagration would put an end to the tie-cutting for 
that season. He believed the Boy Scouts would not 
only lose all the money they had invested, but be 
forced to return to Penobscot so deeply in debt that 
more than one year of hard work might be necessary 
before the obligations to Mr. Dobson and Mr. 
Mansfield could be canceled. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP. 


99 


He had remained motionless less than half a 
minute gazing at the long tongues of yellow flame 
which curled up amid the foliage, when Peter cried 
sharply as he brushed roughly past him to re-enter 
the hovel : 

This isn’t the time when you can afford to look 
at the fire with your mouth open! Bear a hand 

with the buckets, for ” 

‘‘ Do you think for a single minute that we can 
do anything toward putting out such a fire as has 
been started?” Jonas asked petulantly as he fol- 
lowed the scoutmaster. We might lug water from 
now till daylight without getting the better of the 
blaze.” 

These buildings are bound to go, of course ; but 
we should be able to save the small hut that hasn’t 
yet caught fire, and if we do that much we can go on 
with the contract, even if we are squeezed for living 
quarters. Come on, lads, with all the buckets or 
pans you can muster I ” he added to the Scouts who 
were standing helplessly near the aperture. 

“ Where are the pirates? ” Joe Brown cried from 
the stable, where he was striving to lead one of the 
frightened horses out through the dingle to where 
Eben was pulling and chopping at the logs which 
barred their passage to the open air. 

‘‘ I don’t know, and care less ! ” Peter yelled as he 
darted toward the spring with a bucket in either 
hand. “ It’ll be so much the worse for them if 


lOO 


BOY SCOUTS 


they try to mess in after having done all this mis- 
chief!” 

Five or six of the Scouts followed Peter, the 
others obeying Joe Brown’s command to ‘‘ Throw 
the duffle out of the hovel,” and while the excited 
lads expected each instant that the timber thieves 
would make an attack upon them, all worked desper- 
ately hard with the same thought which had come 
into the mind of Jonas. 

It seemed like a hopeless task to make any attempt 
at saving the small building which stood within 
twenty feet of the one that had been occupied by 
the cook during the summer just past. The logs 
were dry as tinder, and huge sparks from the other 
hut and the stable swept down upon it; but Scout- 
master Masterson never faltered in his work, nor 
did he cease to urge the Scouts to renewed exertions. 

“If we don’t save that shanty it’s a case of our 
hitting the trail back to Penobscot and the loss of 
all our money! ” he shouted as he ran to and fro 
from the spring to the camp. “ Jump the best you 
know how, lads, or our tie-cutting has come to an 
end for this season ! ” 

While Peter and the Scouts who had obeyed his 
command to form a fire brigade, worked to the ut- 
most of their power, Jabe Morse, Joe Brown and 
those who had remained in the hovel were doing 
their full share of the labor. After considerable 
difficulty the horses had been led out through the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


lOI 


narrow aperture and securely hitched to the trees a 
long distance up the trail, and then Jabe joined the 
others in trying to save the outfit. 

The flames spread rapidly ; but, fortunately, it was 
the stable which had first been set on fire, and not 
until that portion of the structure had been nearly 
consumed did the yellow, roaring tongues fasten 
upon the hovel. During the brief time left them, 
and thanks to the energy with which all in the cook’s 
brigade worked, every article of the outfit, even in- 
cluding the bedding and the cooking utensils, was 
removed from the building and stacked a few yards 
up the trail where the perishable goods would be 
comparatively safe, unless the flames fastened upon 
the standing timber. 

Now we’ll lend Peter a hand,” the cook cried, 
and he would have done his share of bringing water 
from the spring but that the scoutmaster checked 
him by saying grimly : 

‘‘If the crowd I’ve got here can’t save the old 
sleeping quarters, a dozen more fellows won’t be able 
to accomplish anything. Leave this part of the work 
to me, while you and your crew see to it that the 
flames don’t get into the timber.” 

Perhaps Richard Dobson had had in mind the 
possibility of fire when he built the hovel and stable, 
for even the bushes had been cut away within a 
radius of fifty yards from the buildings, and well it 
was this precaution had been taken, else on that 


102 


BOY SCOUTS 


night the Gray Ledge sections might have been laid 
waste. 

By watching the larger sparks, and stamping out 
the blaze wheresoever they fell, it was possible to 
confine the fire to the buildings ; but the utmost care 
and unceasing labor was required, for more than 
once did the flames creep up from bush or tree a full 
sixty yards from the general conflagration, and had 
any of those been neglected or overlooked for ever 
so short a time, the fiery enemy would have gained a 
headway that the Scouts could not check. 

Arduous though the task of preventing the fire 
from getting among the standing timber proved to 
be, it was not to be compared with the labor involved 
in the saving of the small hut. The flames fastened 
upon the logs in half a dozen places again and again, 
and there were times when the heat was so great that 
it seemed as if the contents of a single bucket of 
water was converted into steam even while being 
thrown upon the smoldering logs. Now and then 
one of the lads, nearly exhausted and half choked 
by smoke, would cry out that it was useless to strug- 
gle longer; but Peter held the Scouts to the seem- 
ingly hopeless task by reminding them of the result 
in case they had no shelter left, or by threatening 
direst punishment in event of lessening their 
efforts. 

Scoutmaster Masterson did as much work as any 
two of his Scouts, and, as Joe Brown said many 



THE FLAMES FASTENED UPON THE LOGS IN HALF A DOZEN 

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IN A LUMBER CAMP 


103 


times afterward, but for him every building at Gray 
Ledge would have been consumed, for it only needed 
, that the fire-fighters cease their efforts during the 
slightest fraction of time for the flames to 
conquer. 

It was nearly morning when the fire had so far 
subsided that there was no longer any danger the 
standing timber or the one small hut would be 
burned, and when Peter finally gave the word that 
the boys might cease work, the weary Scouts threw 
themselves on the ground too nearly exhausted to 
remain on their feet longer. 

During all this time of labor and excitement noth- 
ing had been seen or heard of the timber thieves, 
and it was not until he had been stretched out at full 
length on the cool earth several moments, with his 
face pressed into the damp moss to relieve the pain 
in his eyes caused by smoke, that the scoutmaster 
appeared to realize this fact. Then, starting up to a 
sitting posture, he said sharply as he looked here and 
there at his tired comrades : 

We can’t afford to stay here idle, fellows, for 
we must hit the trail mighty quick if we count on 
doing all our work.” 

‘‘ What else can you do? ” Joe Brown asked in a 
tone of irritation, and, as he afterward confessed, 
beginning to believe that Scoutmaster Masterson was 
altogether too much of a glutton for work. 

It’s our business to chase the timber thieves. 


104 


BOY SCOUTS 


It stands to reason that they’ve gone toward Seboois, 
and we must overhaul them.” 

S’posen you could, which you can’t, what would 
you count on doin’ ? ” Jabe Morse asked with a fret- 
ful laugh. 

‘‘ Keep hold of them till we can turn all hands 
over to the coiistables, of course. Do you reckon 
we’ve got any right to let them go scot-free after 
all the mischief they’ve done?” 

“ I reckon they’ll go scot-free so far as we’re con- 
cerned,” the cook replied grimly. Allowing you 
could come up with ’em, how’d you set about get- 
ting them into the hands of the constables ? Do you 
have an idee they’d stand by and let you arrest 
’em?” 

We could at least chase the crowd into Se- 
boois, and once there Jim Haley would be bound to 
take a hand.” 

“ ’Cording to my way of thinking they’d be miles 
beyond Seboois by the time you got there, lad, even 
if you were in condition to start after ’em this very 
minute, which you ain’t. It stands to reason that 
they struck the trail within a mighty short time after 
kindling the fire, else we’d have run up against ’em 
when we first went to work. If they know any- 
thing whatever about the woods, and I reckon they’re 
wiser in that line than any of us, they must be near 
to Seboois by this time, for it’s daybreak. Of course 
they won’t look in very long at the settlement, know- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


105 


ing that Richard Dobson always has quite a force of 
men there, and your chasing ’em, Peter, would be 
much like trying to catch a weasel asleep.” 

“ It would have been money in Mr. Dobson’s 
pocket if he had sent some of his men from Seboois 
up this way when I told him about the timber 
thieves,” Jonas said bitterly. He had no right to 
put all the work on Peter’s shoulders, knowing that 
those six villains# could have done about as they 
pleased if it came to a rough-and-tumble fight, as 
seemed likely when I reported to the boss.” 

“ Well,” Joe Brown said reflectively as he sat bolt 
upright hugging his knees, the pirates didn’t do 
exactly as they pleased during the short time of 
visiting with us. It’s true they have burned this set 
of buildings; but they’ve lost all their outfit, which 
must have cost considerable money, with nothing to 
show for it but the cheap satisfaction of having 
started the fire. You Boy Scouts ain’t out of pocket 
by what has been done, except as it may cost a lot 
of time to get into shape again for work, and you’re 
a good bit better off so far as dollars and cents 

go*'' 

“ How do you make that out? ” and Peter pricked 
up his ears, so to speak. 

“ That’s an easy one,” Mr. Brown said laughingly. 
“ I’m allowing that the pirates put up a good many 
dollars for their wangan, to say nothing of the rest 
of the outfit, and you boys will save just so much 


io6 


BOY SCOUTS 


cash by hanging on to it. Grub out here at Gray 
Ledge is worth considerable more'n it is while in 
Billy Mansfield’s shop.” 

But their outfit doesn’t belong to us,” the scout- 
master cried as if surprised because the cook had 
made such a suggestion. 

‘‘ What’s the reason it doesn’t ? Do you allow 
that those pirates will have the nerve to come back 
here for it? ” 

“ Whether they do or not, the stuff doesn’t belong 
to us.” 

“ I want you to understand, Peter Masterson, that 
when we run short of flour, or meal, or anything in 
the way of grub, I shan’t let what they’ve left be- 
hind go to waste; but will use it and look mighty 
pleasant at the same time. Before the season’s over 
that wangan the pirates brought in will save you 
quite a few dollars.” 

Before the season is over! ” Eben repeated bit- 
terly. ‘‘ It looks to me as if the season was already 
over, so far as the Boy Scouts of Penobscot are 
concerned.” 

“Why?” and Peter sprang up as if moved by 
powerful springs. 

“ With all the buildings gone, what are we to do 
when snow flies ? Surely you don’t count on putting 
up another hovel ? ” 

“ There’s where we’ll live from now till our work 
is done,” and the scoutmaster pointed to the small 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


107 

hut which had been saved from the flames at the ex- 
pense of so much painful labor. 

“ That’ll serve for about half this crew, and 
even then Mr. Brown won’t be able to do any 
cooking.” 

“ Don’t count that I’m at the end of my rope,” the 
cook interrupted sharply. I’ll agree to keep you 
lads filled up with grub, even though all hands of 
us are to be housed in yonder hut. It’ll be tight 
squeezing; but better that than to go back to Rich- 
ard Dobson and tell him the timber thieves got the 
best of us after all.” 

“ What about the bosses? ” Jabe Morse asked in 
a surly tone. 

“We can put up a shack for them in one day,” 
was the scoutmaster’s prompt reply. “ I’m allowing 
that the cook-stove isn’t harmed very much by the 
fire,, and we’ll get that out of the ruins as soon as 
day really breaks. Once we’ve patched it up so Mr. 
Brown can get breakfast, we’ll turn to on a lean-to 
for the horses. You fellows mustn’t get the idea 
that we’re down and out simply because the hovel 
has been burned, ’cause if you do the fat will be in 
the fire to a certainty. Seeing’s we’ve got so much 
at stake, it stands us in hand to keep our upper lips 
stiff and dig into the work harder than ever. It’s a 
case either of losing all our money and finding our- 
selves head-over-heels in debt, or of making the 
best of a bad matter. It won’t be very comfortable 


io8 


BOY SCOUTS 


for this crew to live in that small hut; but it’ll be 
way ahead of giving in beaten.” 

Right you are, lad,” Joe Brown said approv- 
ingly. ‘‘ I’m willing to admit that it won’t be pleas- 
ant for Eben and me to do the cooking in a three-by- 
four box trap ; but we’re ready to make a great big 
bluff at it rather than double-back on our trail. I’m 
allowing that if you lads will spend four or five 
days rigging up shanties for the storage of the 
outfit, and such-like jobs, we can work out almost 
snug.” 

“ Yes, as snug as bugs in a rug,” Sam Merrill 
added scornfully, and Peter said stoutly and per- 
suasively : 

“ See here, boys, unless all hands of us go into this 
cheerfully, it’s no use to make any attempt at repair- 
ing the damage. We may as well go home at once, 
as to stay here and grumble. Surely if Mr. Brown, 
who’ll have the worst of the trouble, is willing to 
stick to the contract, we ought to jump at the chance. 
After we once get about the regular work it won’t 
make so very much difference to us how snug the 
quarters are, for we’ll be out of doors the greater 
portion of the time, and it can’t be a great hardship 
to climb into the bunk whenever we come inside.” 

Jonas ‘‘backed up” the scoutmaster by speaking 
in much the same vein, and calling particular atten- 
tion to the pecuniary loss which would be theirs if 
they returned at once to Penobscot. The result of 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


109 


all these words was that every member of the com- 
pany, including Jabe Morse, declared stoutly in 
favor of going ahead with the work despite all the 
disadvantages under which they must labor. 

“We won’t even whine to Richard Dobson,” 
Peter said emphatically. “ There’s no need of tell- 
ing him just now about what has happened this 
night; when he or some of his men come this way 
will be time enough for him to find out what it has 
cost him to leave us to fight alone the battle against 
the timber thieves.” 

“ Then you’ve given up the idee of going to 
Seboois right away?” Joe Brown asked with a 
smile, and Peter replied gravely: 

“ We’ll stay where we are, and as soon as it is light 
enough for us to see what we’re about, the lean-to 
for the horses shall be begun. You and Eben can 
fish the stove out from the embers and set it up while 
we’re chopping timber.” 


CHAPTER IX 


AT WORK 

Scoutmaster Masterson spoke of what they 
would do, striving to arouse the enthusiasm of his 
Scouts, and giving no heed to the need for sleep. 
He was so eager to repair, so far as might be, the 
damage wrought by the timber thieves, and to do so 
in the least possible space of time, that he actually 
forgot he was weary nearly to the verge of ex- 
haustion — forgot everything save the desire to get 
about the contract work without unnecessary delay. 

He would have been blind indeed had he failed to 
see that all the Scouts were not of his opinion. In 
fact, the greater number of them believed it was 
actually necessary they return at once to Penobscot, 
admitting that it was no longer possible to carry out 
the bargain made with Richard Dobson, and willing 
to take upon themselves a burden of debt which 
would require many hard days’ work in the repay- 
ment. 

Joe Brown was ready to agree with all that Peter 
proposed; but Jabe Morse believed as did the ma- 
jority of the Scouts, and while the scoutmaster was 

110 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


III 


mapping out his plans for the future the teamster 
shook his head doubtfully again and again, striving 
to show by such means that he was not in favor of 
attempting what seemed like an impossible task. 

Peter strove earnestly to convince Mr. Morse and 
his comrades that by a little additional work and 
considerable discomfort it would be within their 
power to carry on the contract at a profit to them- 
selves, and, finally understanding that he was talk- 
ing to but little purpose, he said suddenly: 

“ Well, Mr. Morse, what's the reason we can't 
keep on and make a good season's work out of this 
job, even if the hovel has been burned? " 

“ I haven't said we couldn't," Jabe replied in a 
tone of irritation. 

You've been shaking your head like a jointed 
doll, and looking as if you'd lost your last friend, 
which is much the same as saying that you don't 
agree with Peter's plan," the cook interrupted. “ If 
you've got anything to say, why don't you out with 
it now when there's a good chance? " 

I haven't said we couldn't pull out of this muss 
in some sort of a fashion," the teamster replied in a 
sulky manner ; but I've got sense enough to under- 
stand that it'll be the roughest kind of a time for all 
hands. Think of livin' an' cookin' in that small 
camp, which by rights ain't large enough for half a 
dozen small-sized men ! Then I've got my bosses to 
think about " 


II2 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ We’ll soon run up a shanty in which they can be 
stabled as well as in the old building, to say noth- 
ing of its being warmer because of the size,” the 
scoutmaster said eagerly, and Mr. Morse replied in 
an injured tone : 

“ My bosses have always had room enough to 
turn around in, an’ I for one don’t favor shovin’ ’em 
into a box where they’ll be half -drowned when it 
rains, and freeze to death durin’ a snowstorm.” 

‘‘ I’ll agree to run up a camp that shall be weather 
tight, and your horses will be as comfortable as 
they would be at home,” Peter cried eagerly, where- 
upon Mr. Morse shook his head dolefully but made 
no reply. 

Then it was that Joe Brown undertook to second 
the scoutmaster’s efforts in the way of reconciling 
the boys to the changed condition of affairs. He 
figured out how much would be actually lost if the 
contract was abandoned after a considerable portion 
of the season’s supplies had been purchased, and pic- 
tured the scene at Penobscot if they returned as 
proof that it was impossible for them to do the work 
of men. 

“That’s just it!” Peter interrupted eagerly. 
“ Folks would say that that we could put through 
the job of fire ranging because there were so many 
of us that it was much like play; but as soon as we 
came up against real work the Boy Scouts were a 
failure. Think of how much we’ll lose if we give up 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


113 

the contract, and of the money to be made if we 
buckle right down to hard knocks ! ” 

Richard Dobson gave you a contract that any 
man in Penobscot would have been glad to tackle,’’ 
Joe Brown added, and when you go back with the 
story that you got cold feet just because the hovel 
was burned, he’ll make up his mind never to trust a 
Boy Scout again.” 

What about Jabe Morse? ” Sam Merrill asked, 
and Peter replied sharply : 

If he don’t want to trust his horses in such a 
lean-to as we can make when we’ve got all kinds 
of timber close at hand, he may go back. We won’t 
need horses for a week or more, and in the mean- 
while I’m guaranteeing that Mr. Haley will send in 
a teamster who’ll be glad of the job.” 

It could readily be seen that Mr. Morse was dis- 
pleased with such disposition of his services. He 
had no desire to put himself on record as abandon- 
ing a job which boys were willing to undertake, and 
Scoutmaster Masterson could read as much by the 
expression on his face. It was nearly daybreak be- 
fore the matter was settled to the satisfaction of all, 
with the possible exception of Jabe Morse, and so 
well had Peter handled the matter that the Scouts 
appeared really eager to carry out his plans. 

The gray light of coming day had not yet dis- 
pelled the shadows when Peter summoned his Scouts 
to the work of putting up the lean-to, while the cook 


BOY SCOUTS 


114 

and cookee set about getting the stove from the ruins 
and into the hut where the work of preparing the 
morning meal could be begun. Jabe Morse was the 
only member of the company who grumbled because 
of being called upon to commence a day’s work be- 
fore breakfast had been served, but even he was 
ashamed to say very much when he saw the boys 
set dff cheerfully, headed by Peter who promised 
them an unusually long time of rest after the meal 
had been eaten. 

Scoutmaster Masterson knew exactly how a 
lean-to should be built, and after Jabe had sulkily 
agreed as to the size of the building, he laid out the 
task for each of the Scouts, taking upon himself the 
hardest part of the labor. 

Surely on this morning the cook and cookee had 
more than their full share of work to perform. The 
stove, not much the worse for having been through 
the fire, was pulled out of the ruins and set up in 
the open air under the lee of the small hut, Joe 
Brown intending to use it out of doors until the 
interior of the camp had been put in proper shape. 
When the breakfast had been cooked, and Mr. 
Brown took good care it should be an unusually ap- 
petizing meal, the Scouts were summoned, and, as 
Eben said, they came a-running,” every fellow 
ready to do full justice to the food. Even Jabe 
Morse appeared to be in fairly good humor as he 
made a vigorous attack upon the contents of his well- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


IIS 


filled plate, and before the hunger of all had been 
satisfied the cook announced that, in addition to a 
lean-to for the horses, it would be necessary to build 
a shed in which to store the food and the tools. 

‘‘ It seems kind’er hard to talk about extra work 
when you’ve got so much on your hands ; but it’s bet- 
ter to start right, and anybody with half an eye can 
see that we can’t crowd all hands and the outfit in 
that one small camp.” 

‘‘If you don’t worry about the extra work, we 
won’t,” Peter cried laughingly. “Of course we 
must have a store-room of some kind, and we’ll get 
out the timbers this very day.” 

Half an hour for rest was allowed after break- 
fast, in consideration of their having begun work so 
early, and before that time had passed the Scouts 
were discussing the probable whereabouts of the tim- 
ber thieves, or whether Mr. Dobson would ever be 
able to call them to an accounting for the mischief 
which had been done. It was Peter who had brought 
the conversation around to this point, in order that 
the lads might not dwell upon the great amount of 
work to be performed before it would be possible 
to begin the task of tie-cutting. 

The day passed all too quickly to please the scout- 
master, for instead of having the lean-to completed 
as he had hoped might be the case, it was no more 
than half done, and the store-shed was not yet be- 
gun. Nevertheless, as Joe Brown said encourag- 


ii6 


BOY SCOUTS 


ingly, they had ‘‘ made a good showing.” Such of 
the wangan as would be injured by dampness, had 
been carefully protected against the weather by 
coverings of bark and logs, the cook and his cookee 
attending to this matter as soon as the stove was in 
place inside the hut. 

The sun was setting when Jabe Morse ceased his 
labor of hewing timber, to feed and water the horses, 
which were stabled in a thicket a short distance up 
the Seboois trail, and the lads were looking forward 
to a welcome time of rest when Joe Brown shouted 
excitedly : 

“ Here’s Jim Haley. It must be he got wind of 
what the timber thieves did, else he wouldn’t be 
coming back so soon.” 

Peter had sufficient good sense to understand that 
his Scouts would not willingly remain at work when 
it was possible to hear why Mr. Dobson’s employee 
had come into camp just at that time, therefore he 
gave the command to knock off ” for the night. 
The words were hardly more than spoken before 
every Scout was running at his best speed toward 
the hut, eager to arrive before Mr. Haley began to 
explain the reason for his visit. 

“Been burned out, eh?” the boarding-house 
keeper said as he came up to where Joe Brown was 
standing as if to offer him the freedom of the camp'. 
“ The timber thieves had all their nerve with ’em, 
to take the chances of such a trick as that.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


117 

How did you know the pirates did the job? ” the 
cook asked curiously. 

“ They went through Seboois early this mornin’, 
an’ told Chris Bartlett that they’d smoked out a lot 
of babies, which was enough to give me a pretty 
good idea of what had been done.” 

'‘Went through Seboois?” Mr. Brown repeated 
thoughtfully. " I wonder which way they were 
heading? ” 

" Countin’ on takin’ the train, I reckon, but they’ll 
have to hang ’round there till the freight comes this 
noon, if they take the bosses with ’em. This section 
won’t be the safest place in the world for that gang, 
’cause I’m thinking Mr. Dobson is good an’ ugly 
by this time.” 

" Does he know the hovel was burned ? ” Peter 
asked anxiously. 

" I telephoned hirn what I’d heard, an’ he made 
up his mind, same as I did, that you’d got it good an’ 
hard.” 

" Did he think we would stay and put up new 
buildings ? ” Jabe Morse asked. 

" The way he put it was that he didn’t believe 
Peter Masterson would jack his job on account of 
a little thing like that; allowed he’d be disappointed 
in the boy if anythin’ of the kind came about. I 
asked him if I should make a move, an’ he said per- 
haps it would be a good idee to toddle down this 
way, an’ see how you was gettin’ along. Said if 


BOY SCOUTS 


Ii8 

Peter called on for anything, I was to give it him, 
that is, pervided the Scouts counted on stickin’ to 
the contract/’ 

‘‘ Of course we’ll stick to the contract ! ” the scout- 
master cried emphatically, ‘‘ and if Mr. Dobson 
doesn’t know of anything we might need now that 
we’ve been burned out of house and home, I’m not 
the one to remind him.” 

But what is it you want, Peter ? ” Mr. Haley 
asked. 

‘‘ We’ll get along with what we’ve got, and make 
the best of it. To tell the truth I don’t know of 
anything Mr. Dobson could do for me, except to 
build a new hovel and stable, and I don’t suppose 
he’d be willing to go so far as that.” 

“ It wouldn’t do any harm to ask him,” Mr. 
Haley suggested, and Peter cried sharply: 

“ It would harm my feelings a good bit. He knew 
those men were here ready for all kinds of mischief, 
and yet never offered to send any one to help us, 
but said everything was to be left to me. Now that 
the scoundrels have done their worst, which is no 
more than was to be expected, I won’t agree to ask 
Mr. Dobson for the least little help. So long as the 
Scouts are willing to stay. I’ll be with ’em, and we’ll 
put the contract through in good shape no matter 
what happens.” 

“ I wouldn’t set it out quite as strong as that, 
Peter,” Mr. Haley said persuasively. “ It may be 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


119 

you haven’t heard the last from the timber 
thieves.” 

I thought you allowed that they counted on 
taking the train? ” Joe Brown cried in surprise. 

It was my idee that they counted on doin’ it, 
an’ so I told the boss; but if he comes down on the 
mornin’ train to make trouble for ’em, it stands to 
reason they’ll take to the woods, an’ it may be you’ll 
see the gang again.” 

Why didn’t you say as much to Dobson ? ” 

‘‘ That’s what I did ; but you know, Joe, how pig- 
headed he is, an’ when I said they’d likely give him 
the slip if he tried to catch ’em at Seboois, instead 
of waitin’ till they’d struck some other town where 
he could sneak in on the pirates, he told me to mind 
my business an’ he’d look after his.” 

How would you have set about laying them by 
the heels?” Mr. Brown asked, and Jim Haley re- 
plied promptly : 

“If I’d been Richard Dobson at Penobscot, I’d 
have telegraphed all along the line to find out where 
they stopped after leavin’ Seboois, an’ then, when 
they’d come to believe everything was goin’ their 
way, I’d jumped in on ’em sudden-like.” 

“You believe they’ll come back here?” Sam 
Merrill asked tremulously. 

“If they are forced to take to the woods in order 
to give Dobson the slip, it seems kind’er natural 
they’d hike for this place.” 


120 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Why should they come here again after having 
learned that we stand ready to treat them as they 
deserve ? ” Peter asked anxiously. 

Pm not sayin’ for certain that they will, lad ; 
but if Dobson shuts ’em off from the railroad, 
they’re bound to take to the woods in some direc- 
tion, an’ it stands to reason they’d rather run the 
chances of standin’ off a crowd of boys, than to 
tackle a crew of timber jacks. It ain’t any two to 
one but they’ve heard that Dobson said you fellows 
must paddle your own canoe, for half the people in 
Seboois know it, since I was so foolish as to tell the 
story, an’ in such case it would seem as if this might 
be their safest place for hidin’ till folks are done 
huntin’ for ’em.” 

The Scouts looked troubled; Jabe Morse gave 
every evidence of real fear; Joe Brown appeared to 
be in a deep study, and even Scoutmaster Masterson 
wore an expression of anxiety. Noting all this as 
the result of his information, Jim Haley made haste 
to say reassuringly : 

“ You haven’t got any call to -take what I’ve said 
as the truth, for I was only kind’er guessin’, an’ 
figgerin’ as to what I would do in case I was one of 
the timber thieves with Dobson hot after me. It 
may be that they’d believe he might come this way 
to see how much damage had been done, though I’m 
free to confess he don’t toddle around his own sec- 
tions any oftener than he’s forced to, in which case 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


I2I 


this wouldn’t be a safe place for those who had set 
fire to the hovel. Say, Joe, don’t you feed this crew 
since the hovel went up in smoke ? ” 

Thus aroused to a sense of his duties, Mr. Brown 
disappeared immediately inside the hut, Eben fol- 
lowing him, and while supper was being made ready 
Mr. Haley called upon the Scouts for a detailed ac- 
count of what had taken place during the previous 
night. 

Jonas Hanson took it upon himself to tell the 
story, and he made it appear, which was indeed the 
truth, as if the damage would have been much 
greater but for the good sense and energy of the 
scoutmaster. 

“ It seemed as if Peter was the only one of the 
crowd who knew just what should be done, and 
how to do it,” he declared. “If it hadn’t been for 
him I’m allowing we’d lost all the outfit, and as for 
saving this one camp. I’m certain it couldn’t have 
been done. He stuck at the job of fighting fire long 
after I’d made up my mind all the buildings must 
go, and now he’s been laying out for a new stable as 
if that was a part of our contract with Mr. Dobson.” 

“Coin’ to run up a stable, eh?” the boarding- 
house keeper asked in surprise, and Peter replied 
modestly : 

“We only count on a lean-to, and we’ll have to 
knock together a store camp, now the quarters are 
so small.” 


122 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Then you haven’t sickened of tie-cutting? ” 

Of course not; we’re bound to do as we agreed.” 

Again did Jonas believe it proper to sound Peter’s 
praises; he told the arguments Peter had used in 
order to persuade the Scouts that it was necessary 
they remain at Gray Ledge, and did not hesitate to 
explain that Jabe Morse was the most eager to 
return to Penobscot. 

‘‘ And why shouldn’t I be eager to go back when 
there ain’t one chance in twenty these boys can pay 
their bills at cuttin’ ties, ’specially after they’re 
obleeged to lose so much time in gettin’ ready? ” 
the teamster cried hotly. '‘If it hadn’t been for 
Joe Brown I’d never come here with a gang of 
youngsters; but he seemed to think they’d pull 
through, so I took the risk of gettin’ my wages. 
Now they’ve got no kind of a show, an’ if I wasn’t 
the softest cake in Penobscot I’d headed for Seboois 
this mornin’.” 

" An’ that’s where you’d been makin’ the mistake 
of your life, Jabe,” Mr. Haley said emphatically. 
"If there’s one thing that’ll turn Richard Dobson 
against a man, it is jackin’ a job. You may take it 
from me that he’d never given you a show to work 
for him again, if you’d turned up the boys and 
Peter.” 

" A lot of harm that would do me,” Mr. Morse 
replied scornfully. " Hobson isn’t the only oper- 
ator in this country, an’ I ain’t so terribly stuck on a 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


123 


man who’ll shift all the responsibility to the shoul- 
ders of a boy, instead of sendin’ constables when 
timber thieves are around.” 

He did what he thought was for the best, an’ 
I’m upholdin’ him in it,” Mr. Haley cried hotly. 
‘‘ Even though the buildings have been burned, it’s 
known by this time that the Boy Scouts of Penob- 
scot have got considerable sand, else they’d run 
away last night, instead of holdin’ their ground like 
little men ! ” 

“What good has it done ’em to hold their 
ground? ’Cordin’ to your own figgerin’ there’s 
more than an even chance them timber thieves will 
come this way again, an’ the second time they’ll be 
ready for worse mischief than before. Things are 
gettin’ too bloomin’ hot for me, an’ I ain’t certain I 
sha’n’t pull out after all.” 


CHAPTER X 


SIGNS OF TROUBLE 

So far as the mental comfort of the Boy Scouts 
was concerned, it would have been better that Mr. 
Haley had not visited them, or that he had failed of 
entering into a conversation with the teamster. 
When Jabe Morse had announced that it was not 
certain he would remain longer at Gray Ledge even 
though the lean-to could be finished next day, those 
of the Scouts who had been timid in the morning, 
grew yet more frightened than before, and Scout- 
master Masterson soon came to understand that it 
would be necessary for him to repeat all his argu- 
ments if he hoped to hold the patrols to their work. 

Joe Brown, who had heard the greater portion of 
the conversation while he was preparing supper, 
also began to understand what might be the result 
of Jim Haley’s visit if the Scouts were encouraged 
to discuss ail the disagreeable possibilities of the 
future, and in order to check the danger he called 
for the boarding-house keeper to come inside the 
hut. 

‘‘ Want some help with the cookin’ ? ” Mr. Haley 
asked laughingly, as he entered the small building 
124 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


125 

where the cook stove was necessarily within three 
feet of the shelf-like common bunk. 

“ Look here, Jim,” Mr. Brown whispered softly, 
“ it won’t do for you to keep up that line of talk, 
else Peter is bound to have trouble. Some of the 
boys had mighty cold feet this morning, and if Jabe 
gets to raring ’round with his song of what’s com- 
ing, it ain’t any ten to one that the biggest part of 
these ’ere patrols don’t hit the trail for Seboois.” 

'' Why, it struck me that Peter Masterson’s upper 
lip was about as stiff as might be needed,” Mr. 
Haley said in surprise. 

Oh, Peter’s all right, and he’s working like a 
beaver to keep his Scouts up to the mark; but Jabe 
has set some of them to believing that we’re bound 
to have more trouble with the timber thieves, and 
the scoutmaster came pretty nigh blistering his 
tongue this morning while trying to keep up their 
spirits. If it wasn’t for him, and, perhaps, Jonas, 
the whole gang would have hit the trail before sun- 
rise. Talk as if you allowed we’d seen the last of 
the pirates, and when you meet Richard Dobson I 
want you to tell him for me, that he has put too 
much of a load on Peter Masterson’s shoulders. 
There was a time when I allowed that Peter was 
about the most worthless Scout in the bunch; but 
since his little racket last summer he has pulled him- 
self together amazingly, and I hate to see him get- 
ting it so tough.” 


126 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ All right, Joe, I’ll see if I can’t help the lad 
along a bit. I’ll put a flea in Jabe Morse’s ear that’ll 
bite pretty hard if he keeps on howlin’ ’bout goin’ 
back, an’ maybe I can do Peter a good turn.” 

Then the boarding-house keeper went out of 
doors again, and from that time until Mr. Brown 
served supper, with a couple of logs in front of the 
door as a table, Jim Haley made sport of the team- 
ster’s fears. 

‘‘You talk about goin’ back, Jabe! What kind 
of a figure would you cut in Penobscot when it was 
told that you had turned tail ’cause of bein’ scared, 
while a bunch of small boys stuck to their job? ” 

“ I ain’t so mighty certain they’ll stick to it,” Mr. 
Morse said sulkily. 

“ Well, I am,” and Jim Haley looked around at 
the group of boys as if admiring them. “ I’ve heard 
what the scoutmaster had to say, an’ seen what has 
been done in the way of work this day, so I know 
whether they count on holdin’ to the contract or 
not. You’re the only one of the gang who has cold 
feet, an’ are doin’ your best to frighten the others 
jest so you can get back without bein’ laughed at 
by every lumber jack that goes out of Penob- 
scot.” 

“ I ain’t minded to hang on here at the risk of 
losin’ a pair of bosses that cost me every cent of 
two hundred dollars,” Jabe cried angrily. 

“ How do you make out that there’s more chance 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


127 

of losin’ 'em in here at Gray Ledge, than if you were 
at any other lumber camp ? " 

“ Didn't you jest figger that them pirates were 
likely to come this way agin ? " 

‘‘ I said they might toddle down this way ; but 
that was only guess-work, an’ seein's you’ve stood 
'em off once, I reckon it can be done agin." 

Then Mr. Haley began to argue exactly contrary 
to what he had argued previous to the whispered 
warnings of Joe Brown, and the natural conse- 
quence was that by the time supper was ready the 
boys were in a different frame of mind, while Jabe 
Morse remained silent, ashamed to insist that the 
contract be abandoned when the Boy Scouts ap- 
peared willing to take their chances against what 
the timber thieves might be able to do. 

You can trust me to pick up all that's known in 
Seboois about the movements of the pirates, an' if 
I find that they are really workin' this way agin 
with the idee of makin' trouble for you. I'll 
insist on Hobson's sending in a gang to clean 'em 
out." 

“ Don't bother to do that,” Peter said promptly. 
‘‘ When we find that we can’t care for ourselves 
we'll strike the trail; but matters must get mighty 
hot before I’ll agree to do anything of the kind. I'm 
not saying but that it would have been better if Mr. 
Dobson had sent in some men when we first got 
word to him ; but now since he's made up his mind 


128 


BOY SCOUTS 


that we must run this job ourselves, I go in for 
showing whether we can do it or not.” 

During the meal, and until Joe Brown and the 
cookee had made ready for the night, Jim Haley 
spent his time strengthening the courage of those 
Scouts who had been inclined to show the white 
feather, and as soon as the cook announced that the 
bunks could be occupied, the tired boys crept into 
them, their eyes closing in slumber almost immedi- 
ately they had rolled themselves in their blankets. 
The cook and the boarding-house keeper remained 
in whispered conversation an hour longer, and then 
they also sought repose, leaving the single remain- 
ing hut of the Gray Ledge camps unguarded. 

A full hour before sunrise next morning the Boy 
Scouts were aroused by the cookee as he built a 
fire in the stove, and the day had not yet really 
dawned when Jim Haley, having eaten a hurried 
breakfast, was ready to return to Seboois, where he 
confidently expected to find the owner of the sec- 
tions awaiting his report. 

Don’t let Jabe make fools of you boys,” he said 
laughingly as he halted a moment in front of the 
hut. I’ll keep posted on what’s bein’ done up our 
way, an’ you can count it as certain that if those 
pirates have doubled back on the trail, you’ll hear 
from me.” 

Then he trudged away, with nine long, weari- 
some miles before him, and without waiting until 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


129 


he had disappeared from view, Peter called for the 
Scouts to follow him in order to begin the day’s 
work. 

During this day the lean-to was completed, and 
although it would have pleased him to do so, Jabe 
Morse could find no fault with the quarters pro- 
vided for his horses. As a stable, it was far bet- 
ter than the building which had been burned, and 
would afford much more protection from the cold 
when winter came, because of being small. In 
addition to this, a store-shed had been begun at one 
side of the hut where it could be come at handily 
by the cook and his assistant, and it was with the 
sense of having performed a full and a satisfactory 
day’s work that the Boy Scouts sought the repose 
of their bunks once more. Thanks to what Jim 
Haley had said, the more timorous members of 
the company had partially forgotten their fears 
of the timber thieves, and, owing to the same influ- 
ence, Jabe Morse refrained from predicting trouble 
in the near future. 

On the next day the store-shed was completed, 
and all the wangan, together with such portion of 
the outfit as might be injured by dampness, was 
stored in it to the entire satisfaction of the cook. 

Of course we’re bound to be a little bit 
cramped for room, seein’s this camp wasn’t built 
for anything more than sleeping quarters for the 
boss or the clerk; but Eben and I have made this 


130 


BOY SCOUTS 


’ere table so’s you can kind’er spread yourselves 
while eating, and in fair weather, or till snow flies, 
it won’t hurt any of us to eat our meals out of 
doors.” 

What about it in the winter? ” Jabe asked with 
a grin. 

‘‘ By then we’ll have different arrangements,” Joe 
Brown replied promptly. “ Eben and I have fig- 
ured that we’ll have time between meals to build an 
addition to this ’ere shanty, and when it has been 
done I’m predicting that the Boy Scouts, like the 
horses, will be better housed than before the fire. 
What are the plans for to-morrow, Peter? ” 

“ We count on tackling the contract, unless there’s 
something more you want us to do,” the scout- 
master replied, looking from one to another of his 
Scouts to learn how they received the information. 
‘‘ Before the fire we had settled as to where each 
fellow should start in, and there’s nothing to pre- 
vent us from getting to work. Mr. Morse can take 
a couple of the boys and swamp out a road here and 
there; but we won’t need much in that line, for 
there’s white cedar enough within half a mile of 
this camp to keep us busy a full six months.” 

Instead of making any protest against the plan 
of work as mapped out by the scoutmaster, all the 
company, with the possible exception of the team- 
ster, appeared to be pleased because the real task 
was to be begun at last ; and next morning, when Joe 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


131 

Brown shouted for “ all hands to turn out,” the 
boys obeyed the summons as if something in the 
way of sport lay before them. 

Scoutmaster Masterson did quite as much tie-cut- 
ting as any other member of the company, and 
in addition he had a general oversight upon the 
work of his Scouts, in which last task he was aided 
by Jonas. It was when here and there in the 
ravines rose neatly piled stacks of ties, thus giving 
evidence of the industry of the Boy Scouts, that 
all signs of fear regarding the timber thieves 
seemed to have vanished. During four days noth- 
ing had been heard from Jim Haley, therefore it ap- 
peared reasonable to believe the men had made their 
escape, or, what would have been more satisfactory 
to the workers at Gray Ledge, that they had been 
arrested by Mr. Dobson. 

Every tie cut and piled in proper fashion repre- 
sented just so many cents’ increase in the treasury 
of the Boy Scouts, and when Sunday came, bring- 
ing rest to the weary lads, it was possible to see 
good proof that not only could they pay the money 
due Mr. Mansfield, but that in a comparatively 
short time they might safely reckon each tie as rep- 
resenting to them a profit on the contract. 

‘‘ It’s what I call a mighty good beginning,” Joe 
Brown said as he gathered with the Scouts in front 
of the hut where the sun had dispelled the tokens 
of coming frost, thus affording a grateful warmth. 


132 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Fve spent the most of my life in the woods with 
lumber jacks, as you might say, and I never saw a 
job begun in better shape. I warrant that if 
Richard Dobson should poke his nose around here 
this morning, his eyes would stick out with sur- 
prise because you’d got along so well. He’d never 
mistrust that you’d had to spend two days and 
more building a lean-to and a store-shed.” 

Why are you tryin’ so hard to sweeten the 
boys up?” Jabe Morse asked in a sulky tone, for 
he had never really become reconciled to the idea 
of remaining at Gray Ledge while it was possible 
the timber thieves might pay the camp another 
visit. 

‘‘ I’m not trying to do anything of the kind,” 
Mr. Brown replied emphatically. It’s the same 
as I said to Eben yesterday morning, when he and 
I snooped around to see what had been done. Ac- 
cording to my way of thinking, Peter’s Scouts 
would have reason to be satisfied if they’d done 
nothing more than get ready to go to work to-mor- 
row morning.” 

“ What about the bay-window you allowed to 
build on this shack? ” 

“ It’s coming along better than you fancy,” the 
cook said laughingly. ‘‘ Eben and I don’t have so 
very much time to ourselves, for this ’ere gang is 
heavy on eating; but we’ve got quite a jag of tim- 
ber already, and by this day next week I’m allow- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


133 


ing we’ll have what Jim Haley would call a 
dining-room, with a door cut through from the 
hut so’s it won’t be necessary to go outside in bad 
weather.” 

After that has been done we’ll be fixed in great 
shape,” Peter cried in a tone of satisfaction. “ It 
was kind’er tough to eat while sitting on the edge 
of the bunk, as we had to do last Friday, and I’ve 
been thinking that perhaps it would pay to let three 
or four of the boys knock off from tie-cutting to 
build the dining-room.” 

‘‘ Don’t think of wasting your time like that, 
Peter. Eben and I may be a little bit slow, owing 
to other work; but we’ll have Jabe’s bay-window 
up in good shape by next Sunday, and then we’ll 
celebrate with a regular Thanksgiving dinner.” 

The day was spent in idleness, save that the 
cook and his assistant had quite as much labor to 
perform as on working days, and when the boys 
had gathered around the stove in the hut after sun- 
set, having been driven inside by the frost in the 
air, Peter made a fairly good estimate of the ties 
already stacked, showing that in less than a week’s 
work they had earned almost enough to pay the 
amount due Mr. Mansfield. 

“ At this rate we’ll make as much money as Mr. 
Dobson claimed we should be able to earn,” the 
scoutmaster said exultantly, and one glance at the 
faces of his Scouts was sufficient to show how 


BOY SCOUTS 


134 

thoroughly well pleased they were with the report. 

During the past two days no one had spoken of 
the timber thieves; it was as if those scoundrels no 
longer had an existence, and while it is possible 
that Jabe Morse may have made himself miserable 
from time to time by speculating as to what the men 
might yet do, the boys had the same as forgotten 
them, save when they passed the ruins of the hovel 
on their way to and from work. 

Bright and early on Monday morning the boys 
were in the ravines working industriously, eager 
to add to the piles of timber which represented 
to them just so much money. Before nine o’clock 
the cook and the cookee began laying up the tim- 
bers of what Jabe had been pleased to call a “ bay- 
window,” and matters in the vicinity of Gray Ledge 
were such as would have called forth no little 
praise from Richard Dobson had he been there to 
see. 

It was nearly noon; on the stove a generous 
amount of corned beef was sending forth odors 
which would have been savory to the working 
Scouts could they have inhaled them, and Eben 
was making ready the table, expecting each instant 
that Joe Brown would give the word to summon 
the boys to dinner, when suddenly the cook, who 
had been in the store-shed for additional supplies, 
set off hurriedly in the direction of where the scout- 
master’s voice could be heard. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


135 


Peter ! Oh-e-e-e Peter ! '' he cried, coming to 
a halt at the head of one of the roads that had been 
swamped out by Jabe and his team of horses. 

Oh-e-e-e Peter ! '' 

What's wanted ? ” came the reply, and a mo- 
ment later Scoutmaster Masterson appeared from 
amid the foliage wiping the perspiration from his 
flushed face. ‘‘ Am I the only one who's to have 
dinner? " 

I want you to walk over this way with me a 
bit," the cook said gravely as he laid his hand on 
the boy's shoulder. 

Isn’t dinner nearly ready?” 

‘‘ We’ll have it on the table as soon as I've 
spoiled your appetite, lad, and sorry I am to do 
it.” 

How are you going to spoil my appetite? I 
could eat one of Mr. Morse’s horses, if it was prop- 
erly cooked.” 

Instead of replying, Joe Brown led the scout- 
master up the trail to the signal tower which the 
Scouts had built during the summer, and said as he 
halted : 

Go half-way to the top, and look in the direc- 
tion of the dam.” 

Wonderingly Peter did as he was directed, and 
an instant later a cry of surprise burst from his 
lips. 


136 


BOY SCOUTS 


Hold your tongue ! ” was the harsh command. 
‘‘ Don’t speak till you and I are where no one can 
overhear us ! 

There was an expression of deepest anxiety on 
Scoutmaster Masterson’s face as he descended 
from the tower and followed the cook so far up the 
trail that there was no possibility their conversa- 
tion could be heard by any member of the company, 
and then Joe Brown asked gravely: 

“ You saw the smoke? ” 

“Yes; it couldn’t have been a fire in the stand- 
ing timber, but must be coming from the chimney 
of the camp at the dam.” 

“ That’s the way I figured it, and of course we 
know who’s likely there.” 

“ The timber thieves ? ” 

“ Sure thing, and if you should tell Jabe Morse 
what we’ve seen, he and his horses would be headed 
for Seboois without waiting for dinner.” 

“ But how did those villains get there without 
coming directly past this camp, and what can they 
count on doing?” Peter asked in deepest per- 
plexity. 

“ I can’t answer either of the questions, lad; but 
it appears certain they’re at the dam, for no one 
else would be likely to go there ” 

“ It doesn’t seem possible men would crawl off 
into such a place, with the chances of being snowed 
in before many days! There’s nothing to be done 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 137 

at the dam, unless they’ve got some way of haul- 
ing timber out ” 

“ As they could after snow flies,” the cook said 
in a tone of anxiety, and added more hopefully. 
Remember, lad, Fm not setting it down as certain 
that the pirates are the cause of that smoke. It 
may be a gang of city hunters, who’ve got per- 
mission from Mr. Dobson to go in there, yet that 
don’t seem reasonable, for there’s no game to speak 
of within twenty miles of here. Whatever it may 
be, your business calls you that way, according to 
my thinking.” 

“Do you believe I should go to the dam?” 
Peter asked in surprise, and the cook replied with 
the question : 

“ Are you willing to tell the Scouts what you 
and I have seen ? ” 

“Of course not, for some of them would count 
it as sure that the timber thieves were hanging 
around for a chance to do us a mischief.” 

“ That’s true, lad, consequently it’s up to you 
or me to find out on the quiet the reason for the 
smoke. It’ll take the best part of a day to go 
up there and back, so you see it wouldn’t do for 
me to be away from the camp that long, else the 
boys would suspect something.” 

“ But what about my being away ? ” 

“ You can pretend that you’re going out to hunt 
for cedar ” 


BOY SCOUTS 


138 

“ But all hands know we’ve got as much here- 
about as we can cut this winter.” 

It’s the only reasonable excuse you can make, 
and if they don’t swallow the yarn, it’s a case of 
their finding out the truth.’’ 


CHAPTER XI 


AT THE DAM 

Joe Brown could not afford to argue the ques- 
tion with Peter any longer, and for two good 
reasons. The first, that dinner was nearly ready 
to be served, therefore it stood him in hand to get 
about the matter without delay, for, being hungry, 
the young tie-cutters might grow disagreeably im- 
patient. The second reason was, that unless he 
was willing the Scouts should suspect something 
had gone wrong, his interview with the scoutmas- 
ter must be brought to a speedy close. 

He left Scoutmaster Masterson gazing in the 
direction of the dam with an expression of anxiety 
and perplexity on his face, and there must have 
been something on his own countenance which be- 
tokened that which was in his heart, for Eben asked 
in surprise: 

Whatever has come over you, Mr. Brown ? 
Anything very bad happened? 

‘‘ I reckon matters here are running about the 
same as when we started in to cook this ’ere din- 
ner,” Joe Brown replied, striving unsuccessfully to 
139 


140 


BOY SCOUTS 


speak in a jovial tone. Why did you think I^d 
got out of gear? ” 

“ You’re looking as if you’d lost your last friend, 
and was expecting to hear that some of your ac- 
quaintances were sick,” Eben replied laughingly, 
little dreaming that, from the cook’s point of view, 
there was every danger matters might speedily be- 
come in the highest degree disagreeable. 

“ Perhaps I haven’t been feeling quite right in 
my stomach these last few days, and so long as it 
ain’t your pain you needn’t groan,” the cook said as 
if making a joke, and Eben speedily forgot that he 
had observed anything unusual, as he set about 
dishing up the food. 

Scoutmaster Masterson remained silent and 
motionless where Joe Brown had left him, until a 
full two minutes passed, and all this while he could 
see, or fancied he could, a thin thread of smoke 
rising above the tops of the trees in the direction 
of the dam. 

I reckon there’s no question but that we’re 
bound to find out who is in the camp yonder,” he 
said half to himself ; “ but if I go away for one 
whole day with no other excuse than that I’m look- 
ing for cedar, when we’ve got it here in abundance, 
the boys will grow suspicious. And yet, as Mr. 
Brown says, we must know who started a fire out 
there.” 

He found it absolutely impossible to settle the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 141 

question unaided, and after striving in vain until he 
saw Eben making ready to call the Scouts to din- 
ner, the scoutmaster decided to advise with his ad- 
jutant. Jonas was one who could be trusted under 
all circumstances, and was not particularly weak- 
kneed regarding the timber thieves. 

‘‘ ril leave it to him,’' he said, and there was no 
little relief in his heart when he had come thus far 
on the road to a solution of the problem. 

Eben was already shouting for the Scouts to 
‘‘ come to grub ” when Peter finally found Jonas, 
and then, in order to have an opportunity of speak- 
ing to him privately, it was necessary to make 
some excuse for loitering while the other Scouts 
hurried on to the camp. 

“ Why do you want to look at those ties so 
closely?” Jonas asked almost petulantly. “They 
are piled according to rule, Mr. Scoutmaster, and 
.you can’t find any fault with them, no matter how 
hard you may try.” 

“ Don’t be in such a hurry, Jonas. There’s a 
chance you may not be so eager for dinner after 
you’ve heard the news.” 

“ News? Has any one come in from Seboois? ” 

“ I wish we might see somebody from there 
who’d tell us what was done by Mr. Dobson. Say, 
Jonas,” and now Peter spoke in a whisper, “ Mr. 
Brown has just pointed out to me a smoke in the 
direction of the dam.” 


142 


BOY SCOUTS 


In the timber? ’’ 

‘‘No; I should say it came from the camp.” 

“ The timber thieves ! ” Jonas cried incautiously 
loud, and Peter clapped his hand over the adjutant’s 
mouth as he whispered warningly: 

“ Be careful how you speak, for if Mr. Morse 
or some of the boys should hear you, this crew of 
ours would shrink mighty fast. I climbed up on 
the signal tower high enough to make out that the 
smoke came from the vicinity of the dam, and 
could see that it was from a camp-fire or a chim- 
ney. Mr. Brown says it may have been caused 
by some of those city hunters; but you and I 
know it is too early in the season for such peo- 
ple, and also that there’s no game on these sec- 
tions.” 

“We must know the meaning of it, and 
there’s no time to be lost ! ” Jonas cried emphat- 
ically. 

“ That’s what Mr. Brown says. He wanted me 
to go up there, pretending to be looking for more 
cedar ; but it would be such a thin excuse that every 
fellow in camp couldn’t help finding out the truth 
within an hour.” 

“ You’ll have to take chances, Peter,” Jonas 
said after a brief pause, during which there was 
the same expression of anxiety on his face that 
Eben had noted in the case of the cook. “If the 
pirates are not there, no harm will be done when 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


143 


the fellows know we had a scare. But if the men 
have come back, we’re bound to tell the boys sooner 
or later.” 

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go, Jonas?” 

“ The boys would miss me sooner than they 
would you. I’m working with Sam Merrill, and 
straightway he’d want to know why I had knocked 
off. All hands are accustomed to seeing you mov- 
ing around, and wouldn’t suspect that you’d gone 
for any secret purpose, at least, not until after 
you’d been away a long time.” 

“ And what then ? ” 

“ Well, what happened later we couldn’t help. 
It’s a case of going whether the Scouts grow sus- 
picious or not, and ” 

“ I allowed that you two were chewing this thing 
over, so came after you,” Mr. Brown said as he 
stepped out from amid the foliage. “ It won’t do 
to stay away from camp at dinner time, when every 
fellow knows that you’re in need of food. Get 
down to the table, and watch for a chance to turn 
this matter over afterward.” 

Thus warned against loitering any longer, the 
scoutmaster and his adjutant hastened to the camp, 
and there found it •difficult to join in the conversa- 
tion without betraying the fact that they were de- 
cidedly disturbed in mind. It really seemed to 
Peter as if the meal would never come to an end. 
He had so far forgotten his hunger that food was 


144 


BOY SCOUTS 


almost distasteful to him, and it was with a long- 
drawn sigh of relief that he saw the first of the 
boys rise from the table. Ten minutes later, while 
the weary Scouts were resting just outside the 
camp, Jonas and Peter walked slowly up the trail 
as if without purpose, to where it was possible to 
discuss the unpleasant matter without fear of be- 
ing overheard. 

The scoutmaster claimed that his absence from 
the camp for any considerable time would attract 
the attention of all, causing speculations which 
might come dangerously near the truth, and his 
adjutant was equally insistent that it was his duty 
to set off without delay. 

“ By going now you can get to the dam before 
dark, and it may, perhaps, be possible to learn all 
that’s needed in time to come back during the 
night. I’ll tell the Scouts that you were speaking 
of going to Seboois to see about more provisions, 
and they’ll think you have gone, if you fail to show 
up at supper-time.” 

“Wouldn’t that be a downright lie?” 

“ It would be stretching the truth mighty hard; 
but I believe we should do that rather than scare 
this crowd so they’d strike out. for Penobscot be- 
fore morning. Jabe Morse would be the first to 
insist that all hands start before the timber thieves 
could do any mischief, and I can name five or six 
who’d be more than willing to follow him. I don’t 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


145 

believe it is right to tell a lie, as you know; but it 
seems really necessary in this case/’ 

Perhaps if Peter had not been fully convinced 
that it was in the highest degree essential they 
should learn if the enemy was at the dam, Jonas 
would have found it more difficult to persuade him 
to set off without delay. As it was, however, he 
knew that the information must be gained, and the 
sooner it had been done the sooner would those in 
the secret be relieved from suspense, for it would 
be in a certain sense a relief to know even the 
worst, rather than remain at Gray Ledge imag- 
ining everything disagreeable. 

“ All right, ril go, and you shall do or say what- 
ever you can to prevent the boys from suspecting 
the truth. This is as good a time as any to start, 
so I’ll leave you here.” 

Don’t be so rash as that, Peter Masterson. 
You may not be able to get back until to-morrow 
noon, and before then you’ll be needing something 
to eat. Go to the camp; Mr. Brown will contrive 
to give you provisions without being seen by 
Eben, and you can set off from there as well as 
here.” 

Peter turned abruptly, walked quickly to the 
hut, and there had the good fortune to find the 
cook alone, Eben having gone to the spring for a 
supply of water. 

“ I’m going now,” he whispered. ** Give me 


146 BOY SCOUTS 

two or three doughnuts, for I may not be back till 
morning.” 

Lounge carelessly back of the camp to the trail 
you fire-rangers used to travel, and Fll soon be 
there with provisions enough to keep you from 
starving.” 

Peter did as he was directed; but while passing 
his comrades he fancied that every one of them 
gazed at him questioningly, so true it is that ‘‘ con- 
science makes cowards of us all.” 

Within five minutes Joe Brown joined him, whis- 
pering as he thrust a small package into the lad’s 
hands : 

'' That’s the best I could do while Eben was 
around. There’s enough to brace up on, and if it 
should happen that you found the timber thieves 
at the camp. I’m allowing you wouldn’t have any 
very sharp appetite.” 

Don’t!” Peter said quickly. Don’t talk as 
if I was really going to find those men there! ” 

“ Better make up your mind to it, lad, for I’m al- 
lowing they’re responsible for that smoke. I’m 
not such a fool as to believe any city hunters would 
go in at the dam unless they came around this way. 
No matter how disagreeable affairs may be, half 
the trouble is gone when you face it like a man, so 
get used to the idee that the pirates have come 
back.” 

Such conversation as this was not particularly 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


147 


well calculated to strengthen Peter’s courage, and 
he made all haste to escape from it, leaving Joe 
Brown to watch him until he disappeared from 
view amid the foliage. 

It was a familiar road, this trail to the dam. 
Peter had traversed it once each day during nearly 
the entire summer, and it was almost as if he could 
have kept on the true course blindfolded, yet he 
walked with his eyes fixed on the ground, watching 
for some sign which would tell him that the enemy 
had passed that way. Unless one went directly 
through the unbroken forest, there was no road by 
which he could gain the camp at the dam save by 
the trail from Gray Ledge, and yet the lad could 
see nothing betokening the passage of men as he 
hurried on. 

'' It makes no difference how they got there, 
if those fellows have really taken possession of 
the camp,” Peter said to himself as he ceased 
scrutinizing the trail. “ What Fd better be figur- 
ing out is, what shall we do in case I find 
that the timber thieves have doubled back from 
Seboois.” 

This last was a difficult problem to solve. Scout- 
master Masterson understood only too well that if 
the strangers had really come into Mr. Dobson’s 
sections, after being deprived of their outfit and 
threatened with arrest, it was more than probable 
they would be in a desperate mood, when any at- 


148 


BOY SCOUTS 


tempt on the part of the Scouts to drive them away 
might be attended with serious consequences, 

“ I can’t work it out,” Peter said despairingly 
after a long time of study. I reckon we’ll have to 
take matters as they come; but there’s one thing 
certain, which is that I won’t call on Mr. Dobson 
for help however much those fellows rough into 
us. I’d rather throw up the contract, though that 
would be mighty tough after we’ve got to work in 
such good shape.” 

Although very little of benefit could result from 
such speculations as Peter was indulging in, it 
served to seemingly pass the time more rapidly 
while he was traversing the ten-mile trail, and he 
was almost surprised, half an hour before sunset, 
to find himself within sight of the dam. Now it 
was necessary he move with the utmost caution if 
he would not betray himself to whoever might be 
occupying the camp on the hill, and he spent many 
minutes in gaining a secure hiding-place within 
fifty yards or more of the building. 

By this time it was possible to see beyond the 
shadow of a doubt that the camp was occupied. 
A light curl of smoke came from the chimney, and 
the narrow platform in front of the door was lit- 
tered with odds and ends of an outfit, which last 
served to banish very many of Peter’s fears, for it 
did not seem to him probable that the timber 
thieves, who were most likely hotly pressed by 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


149 


Richard Dobson, would have had opportunity to 
procure fresh supplies from Seboois. 

I reckon it’s a crowd of fool hunters from the 
city,” he muttered, and was on the point of step- 
ping out from his place of concealment to pay them 
a friendly visit, when the door of the camp was 
opened. 

Scoutmaster Masterson’s heart sank like lead in 
his bosom as a man stepped out on the platform, 
for he recognized in him none other than the one 
who had acted as spokesman when the Boy Scouts 
first met the intruders. 

“ No one in sight,” the man said as if in an- 
swer to a question from some one inside the camp. 

Strikes me it is time the others showed up, unless 
that lumber operator got hold*of ’em, which don’t 
seem possible since they had the bosses to help 
them in jumpin’ the town.” 

Then came a brief time of silence as the man 
gazed earnestly and eagerly at the surrounding 
country, after which he said, evidently replying to 
a comrade: 

Yes, it could be made into a fair winter camp 
by considerable patchin’; but the question is, how 
long a haul we’d have? There’s some good tim- 
ber here, though not as much as I had expected to 
see.” 

After this the fellow re-entered the camp, and 
there came to Peter’s heart a certain sense of re- 


BOY SCOUTS 


150 

lief, for it seemed certain to him that there was no 
more than two in the building. From the few 
words he had heard, it was reasonable to suppose 
that the men had been separated in Seboois, most 
likely while trying to escape from Richard Dobson ; 
but it must have been that this camp at the dam 
had been selected as a rendezvous before they were 
hotly pressed, otherwise why should they be await- 
ing the coming of comrades without being aware 
whether the others had escaped from the wrath of 
the lumber operator? 

“ Better two than six,” Peter said to himself as 
he waited patiently for some other sign of life from 
the camp. “ Surely it seems as if we Scouts could 
get the upper-hands of such a small crew, no mat- 
ter how willing they might be to raise a row.” 

Half an hour passed; night had so nearly come 
that the watcher could see the camp only with dif- 
ficulty in the gloom, and then two men came out on 
the narrow platform as if for a whiff of fresh 
air. Now it was that Peter pricked up his ears for 
the lightest word, eager to hear that which might 
give him some further clue to the intentions of the 
intruders; but the moments passed in silence until 
the darkness of night had settled down, shutting 
out from his view even those objects nearest at 
hand. Then from out the blackness came the 
words : 

‘‘ We may as well turn in, for there's no sense 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


151 

in standin’ here moonin’. Only a fool would try to 
find this place in the night. Perhaps they’ll show 
up in the mornin’ ; but I’m willin’ to give ’em three 
or four days before agreein’ that they’ve come to 
grief.” 

After that silence reigned, and Peter understood 
that he could not hope to hear more unless he was 
willing to remain on watch until daybreak, and 
whether he should do so perplexed him not a little. 
It seemed positive there were but two of the timber 
thieves in the camp, and that they were in igno- 
rance as to whether their comrades had succeeded 
in escaping from Seboois. What more could he 
learn by remaining on watch all night? There was 
a possibility he might witness the return of the re- 
mainder of the gang; but even these two men ap- 
peared to be doubtful as to their coming. 

I reckon I may as well go back,” he said to 
himself after waiting ten minutes or more without 
hearing anything from the enemy. There’s no 
sense in staying here on a poor chance, and it may 
be that Mr. Brown or Jonas can cook up some plan 
for driving this couple away before the others 
arrive.” 

Then the scoutmaster turned back on the trail, 
confident of his ability to keep on a true course even 
in the darkness, and as he walked, using the utmost 
caution lest he be tripped by trailing vines, he strove 
most earnestly to evolve some plan of attack which 


152 


BOY SCOUTS 


might be carried out without the knowledge of his 
fellow Scouts. He knew beyond question that in- 
stantly he told of what he had seen and heard, Jabe 
Morse would insist strenuously on the patrols re- 
turning to Penobscot, painting the possible dangers 
in such vivid colors that the more timorous would 
speedily be in a panic of fear. Yet puzzle over the 
matter as he might, it seemed necessary the entire 
company should be informed as to what he had 
seen, else how could he take any measures for 
defense? 

So excited and disturbed in mind was the scout- 
master that he gave no heed to his weariness of 
body, although in addition to working hard half a 
day he had walked a full ten miles to the dam, and 
must traverse the same distance before arriving 
again at the home camp. He trudged on at a com- 
paratively rapid pace, never ceasing to speculate 
upon the possibilities until, within an hour of day- 
break, he came upon the Seboois trail, his long 
journey ended. 

Then the thought occurred to him that it might 
be possible to awaken Joe Brown without disturb- 
ing the others, and he opened the door cautiously, 
hardly daring to breathe as he crept softly across 
the uneven floor. 


CHAPTER XII 


A PANIC 

It was not a simple matter to arouse any one of 
the Boy Scouts of Penobscot after he had worked 
hard a full day at tie-cutting, and Scoutmaster 
Masterson might have walked boldly into the camp 
without disturbing the slumbers of the younger 
occupants. 

A sloping, shelf-like bunk ran across one end and 
along the rear of the room, the sleepers lying in 
their blankets like herring made ready for smok- 
ing, and Peter knew that the cook’s portion of this 
family bed was at the extreme end, on the rear. 
It was dark as a pocket ” inside this building 
which was filled almost to overflowing with boys 
and men ; but by the sense of touch the scoutmaster 
succeeded in making his way across the floor to 
where he had every reason to believe Joe Brown 
would be found. Then, bending over, he laid his 
hand on the sleeper’s shoulder, whispering gently 
in his ear as he aroused him to consciousness: 

Don’t make a noise ; but come outside where I 
can tell you what I saw.” 

153 


154 


BOY SCOUTS 


The man whom Peter believed to be the cook, 
rose with exceeding caution, and once on his feet 
clutched the scoutmaster’s coat as if in token that 
the lad should lead the way, all of which Peter 
understood without need of words. 

The boy led the man across the floor, and through 
the doorway, continuing on up the trail until he 
was fully fifty yards from the camp, when he halted 
and turned to face his companion. It was nearly as 
dark in the open as inside the camp, and impossible 
for either to recognize the other; but this gave 
Master Masterson no concern. He was positive 
Mr. Joseph Brown stood by his side, and even 
though they were so far from the building that 
loudly spoken words could not have been heard by 
the weary Scouts, Peter whispered: 

It’s just as you thought, except that only two 
of the timber thieves are up there.” 

Up where ? ” was the whispered question. 

“ At the dam, of course. Didn’t you understand 
that I was to go thf^^re? As nearly as I could make 
out from the few words I heard one of the men 
speak, those two are waiting for the others, but do 
not know whether all of the party succeeded in es- 
caping from Mr. Dobson at Seboois. They ap- 
peared to have a fairly good outfit, if a fellow 
could judge from what lay strewn around on the 
platform, and talked of the possibility of hauling 
timber from there, so it seems as if the crowd must 


IN A LUMBER CAMR 


155 

have been intending to make their headquarters at 
the dam even before going to Seboois.’’ 

“ Two of ’em there, eh, an’ they waitin’ for the 
others ? ” the man repeated, and Peter replied hur- 
riedly, giving no heed to the tone in which his com- 
panion spoke : 

‘‘ That’s as much as I could learn. Of course I 
didn’t dare to go very near the camp, and all I 
heard was when one of the men came outside as if 
hoping to see the rest of the gang. Now the ques- 
tion is whether we shall keep this from Mr. Morse 
and the boys, or if we’ll take the chances of the 
teamster’s running at full speed for Seboois as 
soon as he knows the timber thieves have come 
back?” 

‘‘ Say, Peter Masterson, who do you think you’re 
talkin’ to ? ” the supposed cook asked in a loud 
tone, and for an instant the scoutmaster was lit- 
erally paralyzed as he recognized the voice of Jabe 
Morse. 

I thought — I made certain — Say, were you 
sleeping next the wall, where Mr. Brown allows 
is his place? ” 

“Of course I was. Joe acted like a wet hen all 
yesterday afternoon and way up into the night. 
He crawled over me so many times that I told him 
plainly I wouldn’t stand any such crazy business, 
an’ he camped down on the bench after that. Now 
I’ve found out what kind of a bug he had in his 


BOY SCOUTS 


156 

head ! ” Mr. Morse cried excitedly. ‘‘ You an’ he 
knew that them thieves had come back, an’ counted 
on keepin’ it a secret from me, eh? I ain’t any 
more likely to run away than you or Joe 
Brown ” 

'' It’s a mighty big relief to hear you say that,” 
Peter cried with an indrawing of the breath which 
was much like a sigh. “ I was afraid you’d want 
to leave just as soon as you heard what was up.” 

“ Want to leave? ” Jabe repeated as if surprised 
such a remark should have been made. ‘‘Of course 
I’ll leave, an’ I won’t wait many minutes after day- 
break! Nobody here or in Penobscot has got a 
string on me, an’ I ain’t countin’ to take any chances 
of losin’ my bosses. Now that the pirates have 
come back you won’t get rid of ’em in a hurry, an’ 
they’ll carry things with a high hand.” 

“ See here, Mr. Morse,” Peter began implor- 
ingly; but the teamster interrupted him at once. 

“ Don’t ‘ Mr. Morse ’ me, thinkin’ you can soft- 
soap me into stayin’ to fight Richard Dobson’s 
battles! We might lay right down here an’ die 
without his turnin’ a hair, else why didn’t he send 
somebody in to help us when he knew a gang of 
desperate ruffians was hangin’ ’round? I’m tellin’ 
you, Peter Masterson, that I think a deal more of 
my bosses than I do of Dobson’s good will, ’cause 
his friendship, if he ever had any for a soul in this 
world, never brought me in a dollar ! ” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


157 


But the Boy Scouts ’’ 

You needn’t begin to harp on that string, for 
it won’t cut any ice with me! What have I got to 
do with the Boy Scouts when there’s a show of 
losin’ my bosses? I don’t even know if they’ll be 
able to pay me my wages after I’d worked here all 
winter — if I should be such a fool.” 

Mr. Morse was speaking incautiously loud by 
this time, the acuteness of his fears seeming to de- 
mand a noise. In fact, he was screaming, and 
Peter was about to beg that he lower his voice 
when a dark form came up the trail, while the lad 
heard Joe Brown’s familiar tones as he asked in 
surprise : 

What’s the matter ? Is that you, Peter ? How 
does it happen that Jabe is out here yelling like a 
loon ? ” 

I wakened him by mistake when I got back 
from the dam, thinking he was you,” Scoutmaster 
Masterson replied, answering the last question first. 
“ I didn’t want the boys to know what I’d found 
out.” 

“ Yes, he an’ you, Joe Brown, was countin’ on 
lettin’ us hang ’round here believin’ the pirates had 
left the country. We might’ er all been murdered 
in our beds through jest sich foolishness!” 

“ The foolishness is all on your side, Jabe,” Mr. 
Brown said angrily. “ A decent man would be 
ashamed to talk about being murdered; but I sup- 


158 


BOY SCOUTS 


pose we shouldn’t expect anything different from 
you, who have always been afraid of your own 
shadow.” 

“ I ain’t the only man in this camp who’s afraid 
of what them pirates may do. They had the nerve 
to burn Dobson’s hovel, an’ they’ll do more’n that 
now to pay us off for havin’ taken their outfit. 
Don’t try to bully me, Joe Brown, for I’ve had 
enough of this underhand work. I’m lookin’ after 
my own property, an’ ain’t carin’ a cent for what 
big toads like Richard Dobson want done. You’ll 
see me pull out of here at daybreak.” 

“ And I sha’n’t be sorry to see the last of you, 
for I’m tired of your whining,” the cook said 
angrily. The boys will soon find a teamster who 
don’t need a nurse to protect him, and you can well 
be spared.” 

Jabe Morse made no reply to this remark; but 
hurried toward the camp at full speed as if believ- 
ing every moment was precious if he would save 
his own life and protect his horses. 

“ Now he’ll arouse the whole crew, and we shall 
have our hands full trying to show them what a 
coward he is ! ” Peter cried in despair, and the 
cook replied, still speaking in an angry tone: 

“ Let him make the most of what you told him ; 
there’s no hope of our being able to keep his mouth 
closed. He’s so frightened that he doesn’t know 
what he’s about, and we can do no less than let him 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 159 

spread the news after his own fashion. Just how 
much did you tell him? ” 

Peter repeated as nearly as possible that which 
he had told the teamster, and Joe Brown said 
musingly : 

“ It looks as if they had counted on going to the 
dam when we first found ’em, and if timber steal- 
ing is their game, it’s the best place they could pick 
in these sections. It strikes me that the only thing 
which concerns us is whether the rest of the crowd 
come back. If they fail to show up within a 
reasonable time, it seems certain those fellows will 
pull out, and may try to make a bit of trouble for 
us in case they come this way.” 

Before the cook could make any further com- 
ment the hum of voices was heard from the direc- 
tion of the camp, sounding on the night air much 
like the buzzing of a swarm of bees, and Scout- 
master Masterson said despairingly: 

‘‘ Mr. Morse has awakened all the fellows, as I 
allowed he would, and now we’re in for the big- 
gest kind of a row, for the teamster can scare the 
very wits out of four or five of the Scouts ! ” 

Come back to the camp and let’s have it over 
before sunrise, so’s not to be wasting any time. 
You’ve begun this ’ere contract in mighty good 
shape, Peter, and it’ll be a burning shame if you 
have to throw up the job just because Jabe Morse 
is first cousin to a hen.” 


i6o 


BOY SCOUTS 


I won’t throw up the contract if I stay here 
alone all winter,” the scoutmaster replied grimly. 
“ Of course I can’t make any money working by 
myself; but I’ll stick to the job till spring rather 
than trail back to Penobscot in the wake of Mr. 
Morse’s ’fraid cats.” 

“ And you’ll find me right at your back even if I 
lose this whole season’s work,” Joe Brown added 
decidedly ; “ but we won’t allow that matters are 
quite as bad as they look just now. Come over to 
the camp; there you’re to tell the Scouts all you 
saw and heard, and after that’s been done we’ll see 
if a good many of ’em can’t be shamed into hang- 
ing on, at least until the pirates show some signs of 
trying to work mischief. I’m believing Jabe is so 
frightened that he’ll pull out anyway, even if he 

can’t coax the Scouts into following him ” 

And we’re needing a pair of horses every hour 
in the day just now ! ” 

''Well, what of that? When Jim Haley sees 
that Jabe has jacked his job, he’ll have sense enough 
to send in another team without waiting to be 
asked.” 

While speaking, Joe Brown was urging Peter to- 
ward the camp, and the two were yet a hundred 
paces from the building when a throng of boys 
burst out of the door, the foremost saying ex- 
citedly : 

" We’ll hear what Peter has to say. He sha’n’t 


IN A LUMBER CAMP i6i 

keep secret from us what he knows about the tim- 
ber thieves ! ” 

I don’t count on doing anything of the kind,” 
Scoutmaster Masterson said with a note of temper 
in his voice as he laid hold of the foremost Scout 
in order to bring him to a halt. “ You fellows are 
letting Mr. Morse frighten the wits out of you, 
when there’s nothing to be scared at! Come back 
to the camp and you shall know as much as I do, 
after which those of the Scouts who are cowards, 
will have a chance to start for Seboois as soon as 
it’s light enough to see the trail.” 

Peter did not stop to learn whether or no the 
Scouts followed; he went leisurely forward to the 
camp, Jonas ranging himself by the scoutmaster’s 
side as if to show it was his intention to back him 
up in anything he might propose, while Jabe Morse 
cried loudly from the direction of the lean-to: 

“ Don’t let Peter Masterson pull wool over your 
eyes, lads! It’s enough for us to know that the 
pirates are cornin’ down here when they get ready 
to make trouble for this gang, an’ them as sit ’round 
waitin’ for the row are takin’ their lives in their 
hands! I’ll have the bosses hitched up in a jiffy, 
an’ we can be at Seboois before noon.” 

Peter lighted the lantern as soon as he was in- 
side the camp, and held it above his head as he 
turned to face those of his comrades who had fol- 
lowed him, saying as he did so : 


BOY SCOUTS 


162 

The fellows who have made up their minds to 
follow Mr. Morse needn’t waste time here, for what 
I’ve got to tell won’t concern them after they’ve 
left these cuttings. I count on staying right here, 
even if I stay alone; but Mr. Brown says he’ll 
hang by me, even if he loses the whole season’s 
work, rather than make himself the laughing stock 
of the Penobscot people ” 

“You know right well that you can count on 
me, Peter!” Jonas cried, while Eben and Jerry 
Simpson echoed his words. 

“ It doesn’t stand to reason that three or four 
of us could do more than pay expenses by hanging 
on after the greater portion of the crew had left; 
but it will be better to work hard all winter with- 
out making a cent, than go back to Penobscot ad- 
mitting that we ran before anybody so much as 
shook a finger at us.” 

“ Why don’t you tell the lads what you saw, 
instead of spendin’ the time tellin’ what you count 
on doin’ ? ” Jabe Morse cried from the lean-to, and 
four or five of the boys shouted : 

“ Yes, tell us where the pirates are, and what 
they’re doing! ” 

“ I can’t tell you even so much as that; but I’ll 
repeat exactly what I said to Mr. Morse. Two of 
the men are at the dam, and it looks as if they had 
gone there to stay. Those two don’t know where 
the other members of the gang are ; haven’t an idea 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


163 

whether or no Mr. Dobson got hold of ’em. So 
far as what they may be intending to do, I can only 
say that from the few words I overheard it ap- 
pears as though they were counting on stealing 
timber from that section, for they spoke of the pos- 
sibility of hauling it away.” 

“ Where did you leave them ? ” some one asked. 

“ In the camp, where I allow they’d turned in 
for the night. I’ve told you the truth, and the 
whole of it, fellows, and now those who are so eager 
to run away that you are willing to strike the trail 
before sunrise, better be getting your duffle to- 
gether, for Mr. Morse is in a hurry. If you make 
haste it may be possible to reach Seboois before 
the two pirates at the dam have awakened.” 

‘‘ Didn’t you hear them saying anything about 
coming down here to clean us out ? ” Sam Merrill 
asked as if in surprise. 

I have repeated every word I heard. So far 
as I could see, they had no intention of leaving 
that place for quite a spell, unless, perhaps, the 
others failed to show up.” 

Come in here, Mr. Morse ! ” Sam cried per- 
emptorily, and the teamster asked from the lean-to : 

“What do you want? I can hear you while 
I’m harnessin’, as well as if I was inside the 
shanty.” 

“ Didn’t you tell us that the pirates were coming 
down here to clean us out, and that we’d need to 


i 64 boy scouts 

hurry if we didn’t want to be smashed into little 
pieces ? ” 

Of course I did,” was the reply. “ Who’s 
been givin’ you anythin’ different? ” 

But Peter didn’t hear them say that they’d 
come here, and he claims that only two are at the 
dam,” Sam cried, growing angry because Mr. 
Morse had succeeded so well in arousing his fears. 

“ He didn’t hear ’em say they wasn’t cornin’, did 
he?” and the teamster came to the door of the 
camp in order the better to take part in the conver- 
sation, which gave promise of growing exceed- 
ingly warm. “ He can’t say that the other four 
haven’t showed up at the dam by this time, can 
he? If you Scouts have got the wits of chickens, 
you’ll know that the first thing those fellows do 
will be to jump on us — or as many of the crowd as 
are foolish enough to stay here waitin’ for trouble.” 

“ From the way you told the story, we believed 
Peter had learned that an attack was to be made 
this very day,” Fred Howe cried accusingly. “ Yet 
as a matter of fact there were no signs that they 
intend to come here.” 

“No signs?” the teamster shouted angrily. 
“ Do you need any signs to tell you that the timber 
thieves are bound to make it hot for us? Can’t 
you see that they’re certain to jump on this camp 
right away ? ” 

“ The trouble won’t come so soon that there’s 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 165 

any reason for starting out before breakfast/’ Sam 
Merrill cried in an ironical tone, and a goodly 
portion of the mental burden vanished from Scout- 
master Masterson’s mind when he heard nearly 
all the Scouts joining in the laugh which fol- 
lowed at Mr. Morse’s expense. 

” I ain’t fool enough to wait till I’m right in the 
thick of a row,” the teamster said gruffly as he 
went into the lean-to once more. “ I’m goin’ to 
pull out of here jest as soon as the bosses have 
swallowed their grain, an’ them of you as have got 
the sense to follow me can ride a good part of the 
way, ’cause I’ll be travelin’ light an’ fast.” 

Why not strike the trail now, and feed the 
horses when you’ve got so far from Gray Ledge 
that there can be no danger the pirates will jump 
on you?” Joe Brown asked, and again the Scouts 
laughed in high glee, forgetting all their fears of 
a few moments previous. 

“If we can keep them laughing there’s no 
great danger Mr. Morse will be able to coax any 
away,” Jonas whispered in the scoutmaster’s ear, 
and the latter, believing that now had come the 
moment to appeal to the sober senses of his Scouts, 
said in a convincing tone : 

“If you fellows will stop to think, you’ll under- 
stand that there is no danger threatening us just 
now, even though the timber thieves have nothing 
on hand better than the kicking up of a row with a 


BOY SCOUTS 


i66 

crowd of boys who are really under the protection 
— even though he hasn’t done very much in our 
behalf so far — of Richard Dobson. It won’t be a 
difficult matter for one of us to keep track of the 
men while the others work at tie-cutting, and when 
it comes to taking care of ourselves, we might 
afford to send one of the Scouts to Seboois to find 
out whether any of the pirates were arrested. 
There’s no need for me to tell you why we should 
stick to the contract as long as possible, for we’ve 
been over all that part of it before.” 

“ But Mr. Morse is going back, and we sha’n’t 
have horses for the work,” some one cried, and 
Joe Brown shouted so loudly that even the teamster 
himself must have heard the words: 

‘‘ I’m counting that it’ll be a good thing if he 
does go, for you lads can’t afford to have in camp 
a man who’ll kick up such a fuss as this when there 
is nothing to cause it. Jim Haley will see to it that 
you have all the horses needed, and I’ll guarantee 
that another teamster will be here within a dozen 
hours from the time Jabe strikes Seboois.” 


CHAPTER XIII 


GUARDING AGAINST MISCHIEF 

Much to the surprise and delight of the scout- 
master, the boys appeared to be very well satisfied 
to follow his advice. It is true that two of the 
Scouts looked woefully anxious, casting fright- 
ened glances over their shoulders at every unusual 
noise; but the greater number went back to the 
bunk, there to lounge until daylight when the cook 
and his assistant would be able to prepare break- 
fast. Jabe Morse was the one member of the com- 
pany who objected to remaining in camp, and his 
remarks on the subject were both forcible and ex- 
travagant. 

‘‘ You won’t be satisfied till this whole crew 
comes to grief ! ” he cried passionately, addressing 
his remarks to Joe Brown. “If you’d advised the 
crowd to go back to Penobscot when we found that 
the timber thieves had taken possession of the 
hovel, Dobson’s buildin’s would be standin’ this 
very minute.” 

“ Much good that would do us, if we had thrown 
up the contract and run away,” Eben retorted. 

167 


i68 


BOY SCOUTS 


It’ll be worse than losin’ the hovel when the 
pirates jump down on us next time.” 

“ Well, seein’s only two of ’em are ten miles 
away, and the others roaming around no one 
knows where, it don’t strike me that we need hustle 
very much about leaving here,” Joe Brown said 
with a grin as he began making preparations for 
breakfast. “ I reckon you can’t stop long enough 
to have a cup of coffee, Jabe? ” 

“ Is there any one in this crew who wants to go 
to Seboois where there’s no danger of bein’ mur- 
dered in his bed? ” Mr. Morse asked sharply, half- 
turning as if it was his purpose to set off without 
delay. 

Peter had feared that one, or perhaps two, of the 
boys might decide to follow the teamster’s ex- 
ample; but to his surprise no one spoke, and the 
cook said in a tone of approbation : 

You Boy Scouts are showing that you’ve got 
sand, although it must be a pretty soft cake who 
could be frightened out of his wits simply because 
two men have taken possession of the camp at the 
dam. It’ll be an easy matter to guard against an 
attack if so be those fellows are so foolish as to 
make any, and ” 

“ How can that be done ? ” Sam Merrill asked, 
and it is possible there was the slightest tremor of 
fear in his voice. 

Your scoutmaster has got head enough to 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


169 


look after that part of. the business. Fm only the 
cook in this ’ere camp, and haven’t the right to 
stick my nose into anything outside the wan- 
gan.” 

Now it is true that Peter had not gone so far in 
his mind as to form any plans for the future. 
Matters had been so seriously mixed since his re- 
turn that he thought of nothing save holding the 
Scouts to their work there at Gray Ledge. He 
understood, however, as the lads looked inquiringly 
toward him, that it was in the highest degree neces- 
sary he make it appear as if arrangements for 
guarding the camp had already been made, and 
replied without hesitation: 

“ In the first place it isn’t absolutely certain that 
the other pirates will find their way in here, and 
I’m believing the two at the dam won’t spend many 
days waiting for them. We can send one of our 
crowd to Seboois to learn what Mr. Dobson did 
when he went there to have them arrested, and 
most likely Mr. Haley has heard something re- 
garding the men.” 

“ While we’re waiting at least two days for a 
fellow to go to Seboois and come back, how will 
we know whether the men at the dam won’t spend 
their spare time jumping down on us? ” Sam Mer- 
rill asked, and Jabe Morse, who yet remained at 
the door on the outside, added emphatically: 

“ That’s jest what they will be doin’, an’ it ain’t 


170 


BOY SCOUTS 


any two to one that they haven’t started this way 
already. Who’s goin’ to Seboois with me ? ” 

“ Those pirates are mighty early birds if they’ve 
started this way now; it won’t be daybreak for half 
an hour, and they’d find it a decently hard trail 
’twixt here and the dam in the night,” Joe Brown 
said laughingly. 

“ What’s to hinder their startin’ an hour from 
now?” Jabe cried petulantly. “That’s what 
they’re likely to do, an’ you Scouts who don’t 
want to get mixed up in a mighty ugly mess had 
better come along with me; I’ve got sense enough 
to strike out for Seboois while there’s time.” 

“ I’ll answer for it that some of this crew go 
with you,” Scoutmaster Masterson replied de- 
cidedly, and the Scouts looked at him in blank dis- 
may, for it seemed much as if the leader himself 
was changing position. “ Here’s the way we can 
make certain that there won’t be any very ugly 
mess around here,” Peter continued as a happy 
thought came to his mind. “ One of us >vill go to 
the dam and keep an eye out on the men there, 
while another sets off with you for Seboois. By 
that means we’ll be sure of knowing if the two 
pirates make a move toward us, and at the same 
time, perhaps, learn if it is likely the other four 
may come this way.” 

“ An’ a fine fist you would make of it ! ” Jabe 
Morse cried scornfully. “ When the men at the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


171 

dam get ready to come here, where would your 
watcher be? ” 

Two or three miles ahead of them,’’ Peter 
said promptly. “We fellows should know the 
way from here to the dam with our eyes shut, and 
if any one of us couldn’t keep ahead of those men, 
it would be odd. In the meanwhile our work here 
will be carried on nearly as fast as if the pirates 
had never shown themselves.” 

“Who is to go to the dam?” Sam Merrill 
asked, now beginning to appear more composed, as 
if he was regaining his small stock of courage. 

“I’ll attend to that part of it, or Jonas may. 
It seems to me that the scoutmaster and the adju- 
tant should be the ones to guard the Scouts while 
they are working, and I’m ready to take the hard- 
est end of it.” 

“ You ought to be the one to go to Seboois, 
Peter, for it stands to reason that Richard Dobson 
would like to hear how the Scouts are getting 
along, and he’d put faith in anything you might 
say. If you’re right on the spot he and Mr. Haley 
may rig up some plan to preserve the life of the 
next teamster who comes in.” 

“ You ain’t more’n half as funny as you think 
you are, Joe Brown,” Jabe cried angrily, and then 
he went toward the lean-to again as if about to 
set off on the journey. 

“ I believe you’re the one who should go to Se- 


172 


BOY SCOUTS 


boois, Peter,” Jonas said decidedly. When it 
comes right down to facts, Fd rather agree to 
keep track of the timber thieves than attempt to 
answer the questions the owner of these sections is 
likely to ask. I always was afraid of Richard 
Dobson, and always shall be till he gets over that 
trick of yelling at a fellow.” 

‘‘ Suppose you go to the dam and find that the 
men are still waiting there, as when I saw them ? ” 
the scoutmaster asked. 

‘‘ It won’t do me much harm to camp in the open 
one or two nights, and I’ll stay until there are 
signs of a change,” Jonas replied promptly. “ Mr. 
Brown can give me grub enough to last quite a 
spell, and if I have to hang on too long, it won’t 
be a great hardship for one of the other fellows to 
relieve me.” 

“If you’re not here when I get back from: 
Seboois, I’ll take your place at watching,” Peter 
cried, his heart rejoicing because the Scouts ap- 
peared to be thoroughly well satisfied with such 
plans for their safety. 

“ I’ll hurry the breakfast along so both of you 
can start before sun-rise,” and Mr. Brown thrust 
a handful of light wood into the stove. “ Since 
Jabe is going the same way, you ought to be able 
to ride quite a bit, Peter.” 

“ Who said I was goin’ to Seboois? ” Mr. Morse 
asked angrily from the lean-to. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


173 


You have said so half a dozen times 
since Peter came into camp, and I allowed you 
meant it,” the cook replied with well-simulated 
surprise. 

'' I figgered on goin’ so’s to save the boys a bad 
mix-up; but if all hands are fools enough to hang 
on here when their lives are in danger, why of 
course there’s no sense in my pullin’ out.” 

Are we to understand that you’re willing to 
stay while the timber thieves are only ten miles 
away?” Eben asked laughingly, and Mr. Morse, 
who was carrying on the conversation from the 
lean-to, replied in a sulky tone: 

“ There’s no need of your understandin’ any- 
thin’ about it. I hired with this gang for the sea- 
son, didn’t I? That bein’ the case, if the Scouts 
stay here I’m bound to do the same, even though I 
believe it’s jest the same as takin’ my life in my 
hands.” 

'' Anything you boys want to do before starting 
out?” Mr. Brown asked of Peter and Jonas as a 
means of changing the conversation, for he under- 
stood that no good could result from ‘‘ roughing ” 
the teamster now that he had come into line, even 
though he had turned about with a very poor 
grace. 

‘‘ I’ll go to the spring and give my hands and 
face a good washing to drive the desire for sleep 
from my eyes,” Peter replied as he hastened away, 


174 


BOY SCOUTS 


and Mr. Brown said admiringly when the scout- 
master was lost to view in the gloom : 

There’s a boy for a man to tie to ! He has 
walked twenty miles since yesterday noon; couldn’t 
have shut his eyes during the night, and now 
stands ready to tackle the hardest trail in the state. 
Peter Masterson is pretty considerable of a lad ac- 
cording to my way of thinking.” 

“ I suppose it’s my duty to offer to go to 
Seboois in his stead,” Jonas said thoughtfully. 
“ Even though I am really afraid of Richard Dob- 
son when he gets to howling, I can stand it while 
he is at one end of a telephone wire and I at the 
other.” 

I reckon matters best go as they’ve been 
planned,” the cook said as if his opinion had been 
asked. “ Peter can do more business with the 
owner of these sections than any other boy or man 
in the country, because Richard Dobson has come 
to have faith in him after what was done last sum- 
mer, else you fellows wouldn’t have got a fat con- 
tract like the one you’re carrying out.” 

An’ a mighty good thing it would be for this 
crowd if they’d never seen nor heard tell of Dob- 
son,” Jabe cried from the lean-to. ‘‘ As it is 
they’re jest the same as facin’ death for no other 
reason than to please a man who’d treat ’em the 
same as he would the dirt under his feet.” 

“ Look here, Jabe Morse,” and now it could 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


175 


plainly be seen that Joe Brown was angry. ‘‘ If 
you've decided to stay in this camp I’d advise you 
to hold your blooming tongue about murder and 
sudden death, else you’re going to run up against 
me ! I won’t stand for so much croaking. There’s 
nothing to prevent you from going to Penobscot 
if you’re so nearly dead with fright; but if you 
stop here it’ll be with a still tongue, or I’ll take 
a hand in the rumpus.” 

Even though the cook had lost his temper he did 
not neglect the work in hand; but pushed forward 
preparations for breakfast as rapidly as possible, 
saying when the coffee had been made: 

I allow to feed Peter and Jonas first, so’s they 
can get off bright and early. The rest of the crew 
can well afford to wait half an hour longer.” 

When the scoutmaster returned from the spring 
the meal was ready, and he and the adjutant sat at 
table while the cook and his assistant prepared a 
meal for those boys who were lounging in the 
bunk, not unwilling to wait as had been suggested, 
since by so doing they would be spared a few mo- 
ments of back-aching labor. 

“ You’ll see me again by morning,” Peter said 
as he rose from the table, while Jonas lingered 
until Eben should have made a package of suffi- 
cient food to serve him during his supposed time of 
watching. 

You’ll be foolish to make any move at coming 


176 


BOY SCOUTS 


back before to-morrow,” the cook said quickly. 

Go to bed at Jim Haley’s when it comes night, 
for you’re needing sleep, and start early in the 
morning. I’m allowing that we sha’n’t be mur- 
dered by the timber thieves before then.” 

The shadows of night yet fell athwart the trail, 
rendering the narrow path through the forest diffi- 
cult to traverse, when Scoutmaster Masterson set 
off on his long tramp. He had not indulged in any 
formal leave-taking of his comrades, but with a 
cheery “ Take care of yourselves, lads,” had started 
at a rapid pace while Jabe Morse stood in the door 
of the lean-to gazing after him mournfully, as if 
sorrowing because of having abandoned his inten- 
tion to seek safety in flight. 

Peter was weary before setting out. The 
twenty-mile tramp to and from the dam had tired 
him, as a matter of course, and to this fatigue of 
body was added the listlessness which comes from 
lack of sleep; but the scoutmaster resolutely put 
all this from his mind as he pressed forward at a 
steady pace, keeping constantly before himself the 
necessity, so far as the pecuniary welfare of the 
Boy Scouts was concerned, to finish the contract 
made with Richard Dobson. It was exceedingly 
difficult to resist the desire to lie down by the 
side of the trail and indulge in a nap; but he knew 
that if his eyes were once closed in slumber it 
would be many a long hour before he awakened. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


177 


and it seemed important that he should accomplish 
his work within the shortest possible space of 
time. 

It was a weary and worn scoutmaster who 
opened the door of Jim Haley’s boarding-house an 
hour before noon, and literally dragged himself 
inside as if unable longer to move his limbs. 
He had covered the distance, however, and if 
danger threatened his Scouts from this point he 
was on the spot to take measures for guarding 
against it. 

'‘What’s up? What’s wrong at Gray Ledge?” 
Jim Haley asked solicitously as he came hurriedly 
out from an adjoining room. 

" Two of the timber thieves are at the dam, 
using the camp there, and Jabe Morse has been 
trying to persuade our Scouts into throwing 
up the contract. I’ve come to find out what be- 
came of the other four men who set fire to the 
hovel.” 

" That’s a short story soon told ; but I won’t 
tackle it till you’ve had a bite to eat an’ somethin’ 
hot to drink. You’re lookin’ as if you were on 
your last legs.” 

" I am a bit tired, and that’s the fact. You see 
I went to the dam yesterday noon, and didn’t get 
back till this morning,” and Peter spoke as if he 
was apologizing for his appearance of extreme 


weariness. 


BOY SCOUTS 


178 

“ An’ Joe Brown let you strike this trail when 
you ought’er been in your bunk ! ” Mr. Haley cried 
indignantly. 

He didn’t have anything to do with it. Mr. 
Morse had worked the boys up about the possible 
danger from the timber thieves, until some of them 
were willing to go back to Penobscot, and it seemed 
as if I must do a little more than ordinary in order 
to keep up their courage.” 

“You’re sure doin’ it!” Mr; Haley exclaimed 
as he hastened into the kitchen, returning a mo- 
ment later with a mug of steaming coffee. “ Drink 
this, my boy, an’ I’ll have a dish of ham with 
plenty of eggs cooked in a jiffy.” 

“ Won’t you tell me if the other timber thieves 
got away ? ” and Peter began to drink the coffee, 
forced to do so because the boarding-house keeper 
stood insistently in front of him watching keenly 
every movement. 

“ Well, three of the scoundrels didn’t get away, 
’cause the constables nabbed ’em before they could 
slip out of town. It seems that they had bought 
quite a sizable outfit here before any of us knew 
they were around. It must have been that they 
had the dam in their plans when they played hob 
with you. The team was driven off by one of the 
men, an’ I reckon the others were countin’ to over- 
take it on the road; but Dobson’s constables came 
in on the train an’ scooped up three. He who had 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 179 

the bosses, an’ two others, got off owin’ to Mr. 
Dobson’s bein’ overly eager to nab ’em.” 

What was done with those who were ar- 
rested ? ” 

“ They’re in Penobscot now, waitin’ for a trial 
before old man Chase, or were when I heard of 
’em last. I’m allowin’ they won’t give you any 
trouble for quite a spell, ’cause it seems that while 
we thought the boss was layin’ still, doin’ nothin’ 
to help you out of the hole, he was gatherin’ evi- 
dence against the men.” 

How could he do that while they were at Gray 
Ledge and he in Penobscot ? ” 

He sent in Mose Barrows, the timber cruiser, 
an’ Mose snooped around till he got all the infor- 
mation that was needed.” 

I can’t make out why we didn’t see him,” 
Peter said in perplexity as he tried unsuccessfully 
to swallow the scalding hot coffee. 

Mose slips ’round like a weasel, an’ I heard 
him say that he kept clear of you fellows so’s you 
wouldn’t be drawn into the snarl if the men were 
prosecuted, for it would have meant quite a loss in 
the way of time if your Scouts had been called on 
to go back to Penobscot in order to give evidence.” 

And Mr. Dobson was really doing all he could, 
outside of sending in a force of men, to help us,” 
the scoutmaster said musingly, as if the knowledge 
gave him no little pleasure. 


i8o 


BOY SCOUTS 


That’s what he was, Peter. Folks say that 
Richard Dobson is a mighty hard man when it 
comes to business ; but I’ve worked for him a good 
many years, an’ know that when once he’s got 
confidence in a man, or a boy either, for that mat- 
ter, he’ll go a long bit out of his way to lend a 
hand.” 

Do you have any idea where the man with the 
team may be ? ” Peter asked after a long pause. 

“ No ; but I’m allowin’ that the boss will find out 
before many days. He sent one of the constables 
on the trail, an’ the roads are so few an’ far be- 
tween in this section of the country that it shouldn’t 
be very hard work even for a stupid man to get on 
the track. So the other two are at the dam, where 
I reckon the whole gang counted on workin’ this 
winter? There ain’t a better place for timber 
thieves than that same spot, within an hundred 
miles of here, for it wouldn’t be a very long haul, 
after snow comes, to get logs over to Stillwater 
stream.” 

Will you tell Mr. Dobson they are there?” 

No, lad, I won’t do anythin’ of the kind, for 
I’m allowin’ he’d rather hear the yarn straight 
from you. Drink your coffee, an’ then we’ll call 
up the boss.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


MR. Dobson’s opinion 

Scoutmaster Masterson was decidedly op- 
posed to telephoning the owner of the Gray Ledge 
sections, fearing lest that gentleman might think 
he did so in the hope that aid would be sent the 
Boy Scouts, and he said as much to Jim Haley, 
who replied carelessly: 

Don’t get any such idee as that in your head, 
Peter boy. You’re in charge of the cuttings, an’ 
it’s no more’n right you should report to the boss 
whenever you have a chance. Besides, he ought’er 
know what may be goin’ on at the dam, an’ by tell- 
in’ him that two of the timber thieves have taken 
possession of the camp, you’re not makin’ a cry for 
help, because that part of the country don’t come 
within the limits of your contract.” 

“If he wanted to know how we were getting 
along he could telephone you for the information.” 

“ He’d allow that if anythin’ was goin’ wrong 
I’d call him up, don’t you see? Richard Dobson 
is a big operator, an’ the Gray Ledge works ain’t 
more’n a flea-bite compared with what he’s doin’ 
181 


BOY SCOUTS 


182 

elsewhere, so it stands to reason that he can’t keep 
the tie-cuttin’ on his mind a great deal of the time.” 

Left to his own inclinations, Peter would have 
faced about for Gray Ledge without having speech 
with Mr. Dobson. He had come to Seboois for the 
sole purpose of learning the whereabouts of the 
missing timber thieves, and that having been ac- 
complished, it seemed to him far better to return 
to his work rather than do that which might be 
misconstrued as a cry for assistance. Mr. Haley 
was insistent, however, and when the scoutmaster 
hesitated, he went to the ’phone, calling up the 
lumber operator’s office in Penobscot. 

“ This is Haley, Mr. Dobson,” Peter heard him 
say when the signal came. “ Scoutmaster Master- 
son is just in from Gray Ledge, havin’ been up an’ 
doin’ since yesterday mornin’ without sleep. He 
didn’t think that there was any reason for him to 
call you; but I’ve persuaded him that it is his duty 
to make a report now when he’s got the chance.” 

There was a brief silence, during which Peter 
supposed Mr. Dobson was talking to Jim Haley, 
and then the boarding-house keeper, turning to the 
scoutmaster, said as he held the receiver toward 
him : 

It’s jest as I thought. Mr. Dobson is expectin’ 
some kind of a report from you, an’ would have 
been mightily put out if you’d gone away without 
tellin’ him how matters were goin’ at Gray Ledge.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 183 

Therefore it was that Peter was literally forced 
to have a conversation with his employer, and he 
began it timidly, as if yet fearing that he might be 
misunderstood. 

“ What sent you up to Seboois ? ” the lumber 
operator asked in what sounded to the scoutmaster 
like an angry tone. 

We wanted to find out where the rest of the 
timber thieves were, so's to be on the lookout 
against trouble. There was no need of my taking 
up your time, 'cause I allow we can hold our own, 
even if Mr. Morse does get so scared that he won’t 
stay with us.” 

‘‘What has frightened him?” 

“ Two of the men have settled down in the camp 
at the dam, and from what I heard them say, it 
seems as if they are waiting there for the remain- 
der of the gang before beginning to cut timber. 
Mr. Haley tells me that you caught three of them, 
and if there’s only one more loose I reckon we can 
take care of him.” 

Then, curiously enough, as it seemed to Peter 
Masterson, Mr. Dobson appeared decidedly inter- 
ested in what he had been doing, for he questioned 
him closely as to his movements since the where- 
abouts of the men had been discovered, and the re- 
sult was that Scoutmaster Masterson was much 
the same as forced to give a detailed account of all 
he had done since noon of the previous day. 


1 84 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ When are you going back? ” the lumber oper- 
ator asked abruptly after Peter’s story had been 
fully told. 

“ I thought I’d sleep an hour or two, and then 
strike the trail so’s to get back before the Scouts 
had turned in.” 

“ Stay where you are till to-morrow morning, 
and scoop in all the sleep you can, do you hear me ? 
If Joe Brown and Jabe Morse can’t stand off a 
couple of toughs without depending on you, for 
the next twenty-four hours, it’s time they came out 
of the woods and went to work knitting babies’ 
socks.” 

“ Yes, sir,” Peter replied meekly. 

“ Do you need any help ? ” 

“ I reckon we can hold our own, sir, although if 
Mr. Morse gets too scared to stay with us, we’ll 
have to ask that horses and a driver be sent in from 
here.” 

“ Haley will attend to that part of it; call on him 
for anything you may need. It’s my opinion, 
Peter, that you won’t have much trouble with those 
fellows at the dam, although there’s a chance you 
may have a bit of a row before they pull out. I 
don’t intend to let them cut timber there, and will 
look after the matter when the time comes right. 
Meanwhile I’m depending on you to keep track of 
them; I’ll pay for what you may do in that 
line.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 185 

"‘We don’t want pay for taking care of our- 
selves, sir.” 

“ Whether you do or not, I shall pay day’s 
wages for those of your Scouts who are forced to 
knock off work at tie-cutting to keep track of the 
men. From all I can hear you are making quite 
a fist of it as a lumber operator, Peter Masterson, 
and I hope you’ll keep on as you’ve begun; but it’s 
my belief that you’d best be left to paddle your own 
canoe.” 

“ Yes, sir,” was the meek reply, and then Peter 
heard the clicking sound which told that Mr. Dob- 
son had hung up the receiver, thereby bringing the 
interview to a close. 

“Well?” Mr. Haley asked inquiringly as the 
scoutmaster turned from the ’phone. 

“ There wasn’t much to it, except that Mr. Dob- 
son wanted to know exactly what we’d been doing,” 
the lad replied, sinking into a chair as if his legs 
were too weak to do further service. “ He don’t 
believe that he ought to send in any one to help us 
against the pirates, and now it’s a case of keeping 
Mr. Morse’s mouth shut, else he’ll frighten our 
Scouts out of their wits, for he will have it that all 
hands of us are to be murdered in our beds.” 

“ Don’t waste overly much time with him, Peter 
boy. If he gets too talky, send him out with a 
ticket for the wages due him, an’ I’ll have another 
teamster in there before you’ve had time to miss 


BOY SCOUTS 


1 86 

Jabe. Now Tm goin’ to fry you a piece of beef- 
steak about as big as the top of a flour barrel, and 
after you’ve got outside of it, it’ll be time to turn 
in for a long spell of sleep.” 

Scoutmaster Masterson was hungry, as a matter 
of course, and more than willing to do as Jim 
Haley had suggested in the matter of ‘‘ getting out- 
side ” a supply of beefsteak; but slumber weighed 
so heavily on his eyelids that many minutes before 
the boarding-house keeper returned with a smok- 
ing hot piece of meat which sent forth most savory 
odors, he was asleep in the chair, his chin on his 
breast in a most uncomfortable fashion. 

“ Poor lad,” Jim Haley said pityingly as he 
lifted the scoutmaster from the chair. “ Dobson 
is puttin’ him in mighty hard, an’ in a way that a 
good many men would kick at; but if he pulls 
through all right, I’m allowin’ he can have almost 
anythin’ the boss has got.” 

Then he awakened Peter, forced to shake him 
roughly before the weary eyes were open, and in 
a stern, though really not unkindly tone, Jim 
Haley ordered him to eat his fill. 

Keep your eyes open long enough to see what’s 
before you, for I’m allowin’ that you’re needin’ 
grub about as much as you’re needin’ a snooze, an’ 
after I’ve got you in proper condition you’ll stay 
in this ’ere camp till sunrise to-morrow.” 

Peter ate because he was hungry, and Jim Haley 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


187 


took good care he made a hearty meal, after which 
he stretched himself out on a bed made compara- 
tively soft with a large number of camp blankets, 
and during a few seconds enjoyed the delicious 
sensation of giving himself up unrestrainedly to 
slumber. 

During the remainder of the day and far into 
the next night Scoutmaster Masterson slept as only 
a tired boy can, and then Jim Haley was aroused 
by hearing him moving softly about the room. 

“ What are you doin’ ? ” the boarding-house 
keeper asked sleepily. 

“ It’s time for me to strike the trail if I count on 
getting back to Gray Ledge by sunrise.” 

“ Get into bed again, do you hear me ? Rich- 
ard Dobson said you were to stay here till to-mor- 
row mornin’, an’ them bein’ his orders it’s my 
business to see that they’re carried out to the last 
minute.” 

I’m rested now, and there’s no reason why I 
shouldn’t be moving. I know the trail so well by 
this time that it’ll be easy to keep on it even in the 
dark ” 

‘‘ Go back to bed, or I’ll get up an’ put you in ! ” 
was the sharp command, and Peter obeyed, not so 
very unwillingly, for he realized that he would 
have no difficulty in going to sleep again. 

The sun was just rising when Mr. Haley awak- 
ened the scoutmaster by saying laughingly: 


BOY SCOUTS 


1 88 

“ I knew you hadn’t had sleep enough, lad ; but I 
reckon you’ve got a full dose by this time. Break- 
fast is ready, an’ there’s nothin’ to prevent turnin’ 
your nose towc^rd Gray Ledge as soon as youVe 
filled up on hot coffee, spider cake and a juicy bit 
of meat.” 

There was in Scoutmaster Masterson’s mind the 
idea that he had seriously neglected his duty by 
having slept so long, and he obeyed the instructions 
of Mr. Haley so hurriedly that hardly more than 
ten minutes elapsed before he was ready to set off 
on the long tramp once more. 

“ I’m mighty sorry I over-slept myself, Mr. 
Haley, becouse the boys will be kind’er anxious till 
they see me again, and I should have been half- 
way there by this time.” 

I’m allowin’ that you’ll look after matters in 
proper shape, Peter Masterson, even if you do get 
all the sleep that’s cornin’ to you. Remember my 
advice in regard to Jabe Morse, an’ don’t let him 
bother you by his scary notions. Jabe was never 
noted for havin’ too much courage.” 

Then Peter set off feeling particularly well 
pleased because of the boarding-house keeper’s hos- 
pitality; but with his mental burden bearing upon 
him quite as heavily as before, for, twist the con- 
versation as he might, he could not make it appear 
that Richard Dobson had given him much in the 
way of encouragement. As he walked he turned 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


189 


over and over again in his mind the situation in 
regard to the timber thieves; but without being 
able to hit upon any plan that promised success for 
driving the two men from the dam. He had good 
reason to believe, although he would not have ad- 
mitted as much to his comrades, that the strangers 
would strive to do some mischief, more particu- 
larly if they were disappointed in the coming of 
their partners, as must be the case now that three 
of them had been arrested; and how it might be 
guarded against, save at the expense of neglecting 
the work of tie-cutting, was more than he could 
imagine. 

The only way is to let matters go as they will, 
and be prepared for anything that may turn up,'’ 
he finally muttered, and thus having settled the 
question so far as he himself was concerned, 
Peter felt decidedly more contented in mind. 

So rapidly did he walk that it was not more than 
an hour past noon when he came within sight of 
the ruins and looked about timidly, fearing lest in 
his absence some mischief might have been done. 
Everything appeared peaceful, however. Not a 
Scout could be seen, but the sound of axes in the 
distance told that they were at work, and Peter 
gave vent to a long sigh of relief as he pressed on 
toward the hut. Joe Brown was taking his ease 
alone on the bunk, and he greeted the scoutmaster 
cheerily as he sprang up expectantly, for it was to 


190 


BOY SCOUTS 


be supposed that the newcomer brought important 
news from Seboois. 

“ Had a talk with Dobson? ” he cried, and Peter 
replied laughingly: 

“ He did most of the talking over the 
’phone ” 

Does he count on sending any one in here ? ” 

“ It is his opinion that we’d best run things our 
own way, though I guessed from what he said, 
that he counts on driving the timber thieves from 
the dam before they have time to do any work.” 

‘‘ Well, that’s the least he can do, seeing’s it’s 
his own property he’s protecting. Tell me what he 
said?” 

'' First I want to know what you’ve heard from 
Jonas? ” 

“ We haven’t had a word from the adjutant, 
therefore I allow it’s safe to reckon that matters at 
the dam are much the same as when you were there, 
else he’d have given us warning. I ain’t looking for 
him much before to-morrow morning; he had grub 
enough to last twenty- four hours, and while the 
weather holds as it does now, it won’t be any great 
hardship for a lad like Jonas to sleep in the bushes. 
Anyway, you can count it as certain that he’s at- 
tending to business all right. Now tell me what 
Dobson said.” 

“ Has Mr. Morse tried to kick up any row since 
I’ve been away? ” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 19 1 

Well, I can’t rightly say that he has. Of 
course he keeps on predicting that we’re like to be 
murdered, and declares that he was a fool because 
of not pulling out for Seboois when you went; but 
we needn’t spend breath on him. Tell me what 
Dobson said.” 

The scoutmaster set about repeating, so far as 
was possible, the conversation he had had with the 
owner of the sections, Mr. Brown interrupting him 
with questions now and then, and when his story 
was come to an end the cook said in a tone of con- 
tent : 

“ I reckon, lad, that we can settle down feeling 
pretty sure the pirates won’t do any very great 
harm. Dobson isn’t given to making overly much 
talk; but he ain’t the kind of a man to set back 
quiet when folks are trying to get the best of him. 
You’ll carry out the contract, and when that has 
been done it strikes me that the Boy Scouts of 
Penobscot will have considerable coin in their 
treasury.” 

“ Do you think I’d better go up to the dam ? ” 

“ What sense is there in walking twenty miles 
more when you have already nearly tramped your 
head off? Jonas is right on his job, you may be 
certain, and until he calls for help I’m allowing 
that your place is here. These Scouts of yours 
need a boss every hour of the day, and you’re the 
one to hold ’em to their work.” 


192 


BOY SCOUTS 


I wish some one else had the job/’ Peter re- 
plied with the ghost of a smile on his lips, and then, 
picking up an ax, he went to that ravine where he 
had been working when Joe Brown called his at- 
tention to the smoke from the dam. 

As a matter of course Peter was called upon to 
tell of what had been done and said at Seboois; 
but he made the story as brief as possible, laying 
greater stress on the fact that three of the timber 
thieves had been arrested, than on what Mr. Dob- 
son had said. 

‘'So they contrived to nab some of ’em, eh?” 
Mr. Morse commented. “ It seems to me they 
ought’er scooped in the whole gang if Dobson had 
been ’tendin’ to business. There are three yet 
snoopin’ ’round to get a whack at us, an’ I allow 
that’s enough of a crowd to wipe us out whenever 
they get ready to tackle the job.” 

“ Now look here, Mr. Morse,” and the scout- 
master spoke sternly, “ it strikes me that we’ve 
heard enough about what it may be possible for the 
men to do. I’ve made arrangements with Mr. 
Haley for another teamster and a pair of horses 
whenever you want to throw up the job, so if 
you’re afraid of the pirates there’s nothing to pre- 
vent you from striking the trail at any hour of the 
day. The Boy Scouts are to give their whole at- 
tention to tie-cutting, else it’ll be a hard pull to pay 
wages, and we don’t intend to waste very much 


IN A LUMBER CAMI^ 


193 

more time over what a crowd of timber thieves, 
ten miles away, may be inclined to do.” 

Mr. Morse muttered something which sounded 
very much as if he was reproaching himself with 
having lingered at Gray Ledge so long; but the 
scoutmaster did not take the trouble to learn what 
it was, and from that time until an hour after sun- 
set, when the cookee summoned them to supper, 
the work of tie-cutting was carried on ener- 
getically. 

It was only natural that in the camp during the 
evening the Scouts should discuss the situation, turn- 
ing over and over in their minds the words spoken 
by Mr. Dobson, to discover if they had any hidden 
meaning; but Scoutmaster Masterson noted with 
great satisfaction that every lad appeared to be in 
the best of spirits. No one, save Mr. Morse, who 
did not venture to air his opinions very loudly, 
seemed to have any fears regarding the possible 
doings of the men at the dam, and Peter forced 
himself to believe that no further trouble from 
that quarter was to be feared. 

It seemed to the scoutmaster as if he had been 
asleep many hours when he was aroused by the 
noise as of some person striving to enter the camp 
stealthily, and raising himself on his elbow he 
asked in a whisper, not inclined to awaken his 
comrades : 

Who’s there?” 


194 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ It’s me — Jonas. Come outside, Peter.” 

Master Masterson slipped down from the bunk 
noiselessly yet hurriedly, for he believed that the 
coming of the adjutant at that hour of the night 
betokened bad news. 

What’s wrong at the dam ? ” he asked anx- 
iously as he followed Jonas a short distance from 
the camp where the sound of their voices could not 
reach the sleepers. 

Nothing. The two men are hanging around 
as if waiting for the remainder of the gang; but 
they haven’t done anything except eat and smoke, 
so far as I have been able to learn. Do you allow 
that it is necessary for us to keep watch over 
them? ” 

Peter repeated that which Mr. Dobson had said 
in regard to the Scouts keeping him informed of 
what the strangers were doing, and also told him 
all that had been learned at Seboois, whereupon 
Jonas said promptly: 

“ Then I reckon I’d best go back, after I get 
another lot of food. It’s dull work keeping an eye 
over the camp; but I’ve known of other jobs that 
were worse.” 

I’m going to spell you at watching for twenty- 
four hours,” Peter said in a tone which admitted 
of no argument. “ You can keep the Scouts at 
work here better than I could, so crawl into the 
bunk and I’ll rummage the wangan.” 


CHAPTER XV 


WATCHING THE STRANGERS 

Adjutant Hanson was opposed to taking 
charge of the camp; he insisted that Peter could 
hold the boys in hand better than he, and also sug- 
gested that in view of the scoutmaster’s long tramp 
to Seboois and return, he was needing a rest. This 
last was exactly the kind of an argument which 
Jonas should not have used, for the commander of 
the Boy Scouts of Penobscot was a lad who did not 
count his own labor, and the proposition that he 
might be needing a rest excited him to yet further 
exertions. 

I must go, Jonas, and it may be that you’ll be 
called on to take my place at the dam if matters 
are changed there, for Mr. Dobson wants to know 
exactly what the timber thieves are doing. With 
three of their crowd in jail, I don’t believe the two 
fellows will dare try any very rough game; but 
we must be expecting it all the same if we count on 
making a profit out of the contract.” 

Jonas had sufficient good sense to understand 
that when the scoutmaster spoke in such a tone it 
195 


BOY SCOUTS 


196 

would be useless to oppose him, therefore he held 
his peace, and Peter led the way to the store-shed, 
bent on getting supplies. No more than five min- 
utes were spent in packing up such an amount of 
provisions as a hungry boy might need during a 
two days’ stay in the woods, and then Peter was 
ready for the work before him. 

“ Keep your ears open for Mr. Morse’s howling. 
If he says too much, order him to Seboois, with a 
ticket for his wages, and see to it that you don’t let 
him stir up any fears among the boys,” Peter said 
when his preparations had been made. 

I’d rather you staid, Peter,” Jonas added in a 
tearful tone; “but since you’re bent on going I’ll 
do the best I can.” 

“ No fellow can do more than that,” was the 
cheery reply, and Peter set off on the trail, heeding 
not the difficulty of making his way in the darkness 
so that the Boy Scouts of Penobscot were benefited 
thereby. 

To a lad who had pushed a wangan sled from 
Gray Ledge to the dam every day during the sum- 
mer it was not a serious task to go forward in the 
night, and the scoutmaster pressed on as does one 
who is familiar with the road over which he trav- 
els, confident that in leaving the camp under charge 
of Jonas Hanson he was doing the right thing at 
the right time. 

Peter, who forgot fatigue when he was laboring 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


197 


in behalf of his Scouts, arrived at the thicket front- 
ing the hut at the dam before the sun was half an 
hour high in the heavens, and at that time it ap- 
peared as if the strangers had not brought their 
slumbers of the night to an end. No signs of life 
were to be seen near the shanty on the hill, and the 
scoutmaster hid himself in the thicket as best he 
might, understanding only too well that if the tim- 
ber thieves should take a notion to saunter toward 
the dam he must inevitably be discovered, in which 
event there was every reason to believe matters 
would be most disagreeable. 

As a beginning to his watch Peter made a hearty 
breakfast on a portion of the food he had brought 
with him, and this done he gave all his attention to 
the camp on the hill, remembering, as his cheeks 
flushed with shame, the time when he had shown 
himself to be a Scout unworthy of confidence. An 
hour passed; the sun rode high in the heavens. 
One of the men appeared on the platform, appar- 
ently for no other purpose than to see if his miss- 
ing comrades were yet in sight, and Peter was 
startled almost to the point of exposing himself 
to view when the man cried in a tone of intense 
relief : 

Here's the team at last, an' now we'll know 
what is the matter with the others ! " 

Half-rising in his thicket of fir trees Peter was 
able, after a long time of waiting, to see a pair of 


BOY SCOUTS 


198 

horses driven by one man and drawing a heavy 
wagon, climbing the hill by the trail that led south- 
ward to Gray Ledge. Hardly being aware of the 
fact, he wondered how any one could approach 
from that direction without having been seen by 
the Scouts who were supposed to be busily engaged 
cutting ties. 

“ It has taken you a mighty long time to get 
here,” the man on the platform shouted while the 
newcomer was yet some distance away, and the 
latter replied in a tone of irritation: 

“ Lucky for you that I got here at all. Dobson 
has sent constables out in every direction, an' IVe 
driven forty miles to make five. I'm allowin' that 
the sooner we get away from this place the better, 
for it won’t be possible to make a dollar, owin' to 
the way the country is stirred up. It seems like as 
if every man, woman an' child has had the tip to 
look out for us.'' 

“Where's the rest of the crowd?'' the man on 
the platform asked, and he who was driving the ap- 
parently weary horses replied: 

“ Dobson has gathered them in, an' I reckon 
they’ll tell all they know if there’s a chance of 
savin' their skins.'' 

“ Don’t give in so easy, Bart. We're safe 
enough here, an’ even if we come to believe that 
it won’t pay to make a move toward pullin’ off tim- 
ber, we can stay here snug for a long spell.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


199 


Yes, unless those cubs down at Gray Ledge get 
wind of where we are, an’ then I’m allowin’ that 
old man Dobson will soon get a line on us.” 

“ It won’t be much of a trick to drive those 
babies away before they’ve had a chance to blab, 
an’ the doin’ of it will be somethin’ to prevent us 
from growin’ rusty.” 

By this time the man with the horses had 
mounted the hill from the direction of the dam, 
and was being greeted by the third member of the 
company, who had come out from the building as 
he approached, the three speaking rapidly at the 
same moment, which prevented Peter from under- 
standing what was said. Then the horses were un- 
harnessed, fastened to the tres near by, and fed, 
after which the men lounged on the narrow plat- 
form evidently bent on discussing the situation. 

Scoutmaster Masterson heard the newcomer de- 
scribe the arrest of his comrades, indulging in 
many harsh words concerning Richard Dobson 
meanwhile, and then came that question for which 
Peter had been waiting eagerly: 

“Well, what are we to do? Three of us can’t 
make day’s wages at haulin’ off timber, an’ it 
stands to reason that after the row Dobson has 
made, it’s his business to find out where we’re at.” 

“ Give it up as a bad job,” one of the company 
said decidedly. “ If we hadn’t got mixed up with 
them babies we might’er pulled off quite a trick; 


200 


BOY SCOUTS 


but as things have turned I reckon we’d best look 
for somethin’ easier.” 

If you’d followed my advice we’d left that 
crowd of cubs alone, ’cause there was nothin’ to be 
gained by tacklin’ ’em, except to let everybody 
know we’d come into these sections,” the driver of 
the team grumbled, and one of the others said an- 
grily: 

Seein’s we did tackle ’em, whether it was fool- 
ish or not, I believe in finishin’ the job. It don’t 
please me to think I’m driven out of a good thing 
by a lot of cubs, an’ since we’ve got to leave here, 
as I reckon we have, let’s show the children that it 
was a bad move to buck up agin us.” 

‘‘What more can you do? We’ve burned the 
camps, which is about all the harm we’re able to 
work Dobson, an’ I don’t reckon you count on 
spankin’ the babies, eh ? ” 

“ We’ll give ’em one good turnin’ over before 
we go.” 

“ How?” 

“ I haven’t figgered that part of it yet. ’Cordin’ 
to the looks of the bosses they’ll need a couple of 
days’ rest before we pull out, an’ when that’s been 
had I reckon we can contrive somethin’ that’ll give 
the cubs a jolt. I’ll get breakfast now, an’ we’ll 
talk about it later.” 

Then one of the men disappeared inside the hut, 
and Peter, feeling no little mental disquietude, de- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


201 


cided that it was well he had come just at this time, 
for it was evident that the Boy Scouts were in 
danger from these disappointed thieves. 

During half an hour or more the two men on the 
platform of the camp discussed past events, the 
newcomer telling of his many adventures while 
escaping from Seboois; but nothing of especial in- 
terest to Scoutmaster Masterson was said before the 
idle ones were summoned to breakfast. As a mat- 
ter of course it was not possible for him to hear 
anything which was said while the men were inside 
the building, and during such time Peter had am- 
ple opportunity to realize that the chances were 
many against the Scouts being able to carry out 
their contract with a profit. 

It seems mighty tough that these pirates 
should turn up here just when we Scouts have got 
the chance of our lives,’’ he muttered to himself 
while waiting for the reappearance of the men. 
‘‘If they’d staid away we might have done a good 
season’s work; but now it begins to look as if Mr. 
Morse is in the right when he predicts that there’s 
a pile of trouble ahead of us.” 

Within half an hour or less the men reappeared 
on the platform, coming there seemingly for no 
other purpose than that of passing the time with the 
greatest possible degree of comfort; and Scout- 
master Masterson pricked up his ears to distinguish 
what might be said, but without gaining very much 


202 


BOY SCOUTS 


information. He was only eager to hear that por- 
tion of the conversation which had reference to 
their plans for the future as concerned the Boy 
Scouts; but no mention was made of Gray iTedge 
or its workers. 

Shortly before noon the strangers retired inside 
the camp, most likely for a noonday nap, and dur- 
ing a full three hours Peter contented himself as 
best he might in the thicket, not daring to leave his 
place of concealment for a single minute because 
of knowing that the enemy might come into view 
at any time. That which had been said in the 
morning, when the man with the horses first ar- 
rived, was all the scoutmaster had heard in which 
he was particularly interested, although he re- 
mained on watch until night had come and the 
enemy disappeared once more, evidently with the 
intention of going to bed. 

I reckon Pd best get back to Gray Ledge and 
have a talk with Joe Brown,” Peter said to himself 
at a late hour in the evening when there were no 
evidences that the men would come into the open 
again. “ I can go to the camp and get back before 
daylight, and I must be here then, for now it is 
certain Mr. Morse has good grounds for being 
afraid of what may happen.” 

A ten-mile walk over a blind trail in the night is 
by no means a pleasing proposition, yet Scout- 
master Masterson accomplished it before midnight, 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


203 


his mind so full of fears as to the future that he 
failed to realize fatigue of body. 

This time he was careful to make no mistake 
when he crept into the hut to awaken the cook, and 
five minutes after his arrival he and Joe Brown 
were seated on a log twenty yards from the camp, 
discussing the situation as it appeared in the light 
of what had been learned that day. 

So they’re still bent on roughing into us?” 
Mr. Brown said thoughtfully after Peter’s story 
had been told. If Jabe Morse should come to 
learn of what you’ve heard, a team of oxen couldn’t 
hold him in this camp. I declare, Peter, I’m at my 
wits’ ends to know what you ought’er do, unless 
you’re willing to make another trip to Seboois and 
tell Richard Dobson what you’ve heard.” 

I wouldn’t do that if I knew that our whole 
season’s work would be thrown away,” the scout- 
master replied very decidedly. “ He had good 
reason to believe that these men might try to square 
things with us, and yet allowed that I’d better stay 
in charge. Now I’ll take what’s coming to us 
without crying baby.” 

“ Do you reckon that somebody must keep watch 
over that camp all the time ? ” the cook asked after 
a long pause. 

“ I don’t see any other way, unless we’re willing 
to give the pirates a chance of coming upon us un- 
awares. Do you know, Mr. Brown, I’ve been ask- 


204 


BOY SCOUTS 


ing myself if it could really be called stealing in 
case I gathered in the horses ? ” 

“ Stealing? Of course not; but what good would 
it do you to get hold of their team? 

None, so far as I can make out now, except 
that they’d stay there two or three days hunting 
for the beasts, which would give our boys just so 
much more time for working. It’s pretty near the 
season when we may expect a snow storm, and if 
those men knew they’d got to tramp to some settle- 
ment, they might decide that it was better to look 
after their own skins rather than wait around to 
settle matters with us.” 

“ Is there a chance you could get the horses away 
without the men knowing what was being done?” 

“ To-night the animals were left hitched to the 
trees eastward of the camp, and it’s likely they’ll 
be there to-morrow. I could lead them down the 
trail without much danger of being heard.” 

'' And having got the team, what would you do 
with it? ” 

“I wouldn’t try for the wagon; but if I got 
hold of the horses I’d take them to Seboois, and 
let Mr. Dobson and Mr. Haley attend to the mat- 
ter from then on.” 

It may not be a bad idea,” the cook said re- 
flectively; “but you must remember that if those 
fellows caught you at anything of the kind you’d 
get it rougher than nails.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


205 


I’m willing to take the risk if by so doing the 
boys can keep on with their work here. You see, 
Mr. Brown, that if we make a mess with this con- 
tract we’ll not only be way in the hole so far as 
debts go, but no one will ever give us such a chance 
again.” 

Right you are, lad, and yet I’m not sure that 
I’ve got any right to let you poke your nose into 
such a dangerous place, for those timber thieves, 
brought up with a round turn as they have been, 
won’t stop at trifles if they get hold of you. I’m 
not certain your life wouldn’t be in danger, for 
desperate fellows can go to great lengths in these 
’ere woods without much danger of being laid by 
the heels.” 

“I’ll take the chances anyway,” Peter said de- 
cidedly, as if having at that moment come to a 
decision. “ Anything is better than for us to fail 
at tie-cutting after we’ve had such a good show for 
earning money, and if I’m the only one who’s run- 
ning into danger, it don’t count.” 

“ I’d rather you didn’t talk that way,” and the 
cook laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder caress- 
ingly. “ Since things were cleared up ’twixt you 
and me last summer, I’ve come to have a mighty 
friendly feeling for the scoutmaster of these ’ere 
patrols. It would hurt me terribly if you came to 
grief while trying to help the other fellows, some 
of whom don’t deserve all you’re doing for ’em.” 


2o6 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ I’ll make a try for the horses, if you’re sure 
it won’t be really stealing, and we’ll see how far the 
pirates will go after learning that they’re about 
the same as stranded at the dam. They’ll be need- 
ing more provisions pretty soon, and how will they 
get supplies without the team ? ” 

It’ll cripple ’em mightily, lad, and I wouldn’t 
wonder if you’re on the right track. Stealing? Of 
course it isn’t when you’re taking the horses only 
with the idea of preventing the men from doing 
you a wrong. Then again, you don’t count on car- 
rying the team away for your own use; but only 
to leave it with Jim Haley where it can be used 
by the fellows in jail, after they get out. As I 
look at the matter, you’re warranted in doing every- 
thing that comes to mind that’ll seem to aid the 
Boy Scouts. If we could only have about twelve 
inches of snow just now, it would help out amaz- 
ingly ! ” 

Snow won’t come any the sooner because of 
our wishing for it,” the scoutmaster replied cheer- 
ily, decidedly relieved in mind now that he had 
settled upon a plan which gave some little promise 
of being successful. You might tell Jonas what 
I’ve said; but it won’t pay to let any of the other 
fellows know that I’ve been in camp. Now if 
you’ll get me as much in the way of provisions as 
will save me from being hungry during the next 
twenty- four hours. I’ll be off.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


207 


‘‘ Then you’ve made up your mind that the horses 
are the one best trick?” Mr. Brown asked with a 
note of anxiety in his tone. 

“If there’s any other way, tell me and I’ll 
try it.” 

“ And you’ll be careful, lad ? ” 

“ Sure. I’m not minded to get the worst of a 
bargain if it can be prevented. Will you 
see to it that Jonas keeps his Scouts well 
to their work? I’ll show up, either from 
Seebois, or with word that I’m beaten, within 
thirty-six hours.” 

The cook did not attempt to remonstrate. It 
must be remembered that the Boy Scouts were in 
the wilderness where might too often makes right, 
and it was Scoutmaster Masterson’s duty to do 
whatsoever he could for the safety and well being 
of those who looked upon him as the leader. The 
sole idea in taking the horses was so to cripple the 
timber thieves that it would be necessary they at- 
tend to their own safety, rather than make an at- 
tack upon the lads who had been the unwitting in- 
struments of their discomfiture, and it was rea- 
sonable to suppose that the men would not take 
the chances of being snowed in at the dam with- 
out means of hauling in provisions, or of making 
their escape on foot. 

Joe Brown wasted no time in making ready pro- 
visions sufficient for Peter’s needs during two or 


2o8 


BOY SCOUTS 


three days, and this he succeeded in doing without 
awakening the sleeping Scouts. 

“ Here’s as much as you can carry comfortably, 
lad,” he said, giving a small package wrapped in a 
towel into Peter’s hands. “ Remember that it 
would be better you made a dismal failure of this 
Gray Ledge contract than fall into the hands of 
those pirates while trying to lead off their horses. 
Be careful, and if you find that the trick can’t be 
turned without too much danger, throw up the job 
and come back to us.” 

“ I’ll take good care of myself, Mr. Brown,” 
Peter said with a feeble attempt at speaking in a 
cheery tone, and then without further parley he 
plunged into the gloom of the trail to the dam. 


CHAPTER XVI 


DESPOILING THE ENEMY 

As a matter of course Scoutmaster Masterson 
turned the matter over and over again in his mind 
as he went slowly along the trail, not daring to 
move rapidly in the darkness lest he get a fall, and 
the longer he dwelt upon the situation the more 
strongly did he believe that that which he proposed 
to do was the best weapon he could use against the 
enemy, so far as forcing them to leave Mr. Dob- 
son’s sections was concerned. 

It was not beyond the bounds of probability that 
the men would remain at the dam even after know- 
ing that three of their party were in jail, for while 
they had at their command a pair of horses, a con- 
siderable amount of timber could be hauled to some 
water-way through which it might be driven in 
the spring without passing into Richard Dobson’s 
booms. If, however, the horses were taken away 
as Peter proposed doing, then must the men of 
necessity leave that portion of the country, for it 
would be impossible to move a single log. 

Winter was near at hand. When a heavy fall 
209 


210 


BOY SCOUTS 


of snow came it would be difficult for the strangers 
to leave the dam, after being deprived of the horses, 
unless, as was extremely improbable, they were 
equipped with snow-shoes. Look at it in whatever 
light he might. Scoutmaster Masterson believed 
that the key to the whole situation lay in so crip- 
pling the enemy that flight would be imperative. 

“ They may come around Gray Ledge way, go- 
ing out, so’s to give us a slap ; but we can stand one 
big row rather than stay in the cuttings all winter 
keeping watch over the pirates,” Peter said to him- 
self. Of course Til get chewed up if they catch 
me running off the horses; but it’ll be a big thing 
for the Boy Scouts if I can do it.” 

Peter gave but a passing thought to his own 
danger. To fill the contract with Mr. Dobson in a 
workmanlike manner, thereby earning good wages 
for all the members of the company, was, as he 
viewed the matter, the one end to be striven for, 
and if he could succeed in his present purpose, thus 
relieving his Scouts of all care regarding their own 
safety, it made little difference what became of 
him. 

Because of being forced to move slowly owing to 
the darkness, the sun had risen before Peter arrived 
within sight of the dam; but it seemed as if the 
delay was of little consequence since there were no 
tokens that the men had yet awakened. Creeping 
into the thicket which formed his hiding-place, he 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


2II 


could see the horses standing within the clump of 
trees at the left of the camp, and understood, be- 
cause of their impatient pawing the ground and 
moving to and fro uneasily, that they had not yet 
been fed. 

Now came a long, weary time of waiting for the 
timber thieves to make their appearance outside the 
hut, and this was most trying to the scoutmaster 
because of the difficulty he experienced in remain- 
ing awake. He had had no sleep since leaving Se- 
boois, during which time he had walked over rough 
trails no less than forty miles, and it seemed as if 
the one thing in this world to be desired was an 
opportunity to close his eyes in slumber even though 
only for a few minutes. It was not safe for him 
to move around outside the concealment of the 
thicket, and the only means he had to prevent his 
heavy eyelids from closing, was to shift from one 
foot to another as he stood upright, or by assuming 
the most uncomfortable attitudes possible. 

Not until the sun was at least two hours high in 
the heavens did any of the men show themselves 
on the platform of the hut, and then he who had 
driven the horses appeared in the doorway as he 
gazed eagerly around. 

“ Not a glimpse of any living thing,” he cried in 
a loud tone to his companions. “ Unless the other 
fellows were sent to jail it’s certain they’ve gone 
astray while trying to find this place, though I don’t 


212 


BOY SCOUTS 


understand how that could come about after we 
had mapped out the trails so plainly/' 

There was some reply from those inside the 
camp, but Peter could not distinguish fhe words. 
Then the man said, with a prolonged yawn : 

'' Pm thinking that one of us can’t do better than 
prowl around between here an’ where I left the 
main road. With a horse to ride it won’t be such 
very hard work, an’ almost anythin’ is more cheer- 
ful than waitin’ here without knowin’ what has 
happened.” 

At this moment a second stranger came from the 
camp, and after searching the surrounding country 
with his eyes, as his comrade had done, he replied 
thoughtfully : 

“ I’m not certain but that’s what we’d best do. 
I’m gettin’ tired of this bloomin’ place. Besides, if 
we’re to do any work here it stands us in hand to 
get in more supplies, so you may as well take the 
team an’ bring in what we’ll need. It’ll be a case 
of killin’ two birds with one stone, for if the others 
have had a trial, you’ll hear about it at any shop 
within fifty miles of the place. The news that some 
of us had been found guilty of timber stealin’, al- 
though we haven’t had a chance to do anythin’ of 
the kind, would spread like wildfire over this part 
of the country where every man, woman and child 
is in the lumber business.” 

The teamster lounged away to feed and water 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


213 


his horses, and Peter was bowed down with dis- 
appointment, for if the plan proposed should be 
carried out that day, he had nerved himself to the 
scheme of running off the horses without avail. 

When the fellow returned from caring for the 
beasts, he disappeared inside the hut without any 
attempt to enter into conversation with his comrade 
on the platform. A moment later smoke began to 
come from the chimney, and shortly afterward all 
the men were shut within the camp, eating break- 
fast, as Scoutmaster Masterson had good reason 
for believing. 

“If they go away with the horses there's no need 
of my staying here,” Peter said to himself, “ for 
the Scouts won’t have anything to fear until those 
fellows find out that some of their gang were sent 
to Penobscot jail.” 

Before the strangers again appeared on the plat- 
form, Peter was forced to exert all his will power 
to prevent his eyes from closing in slumber; but 
they were wide open about nine o’clock when the 
three men came out with pipes in their hands, evi- 
dently counting on what might be called a “ social 
session.” They remained silent so long that Peter 
began to fear the question of going in search of the 
missing members of the party had been settled dur- 
ing the breakfast time, and therefore was consider- 
ably elated when he who had acted as teamster 
asked, as if continuing an interrupted conversation: 


214 


BOY SCOUTS 


Well, what do you chaps think of my takin' a 
turn around? We can’t afford to stay here many 
days longer if the rest of the crowd are in real 
trouble, ’cause it’s up to us to help ’em out.” 

It ain’t any two to one that, if our crowd has 
been tried an’ convicted, every measly constable 
within an hundred miles is on the watch for us. 
Those bloomin’ babies have most likely told that 
there were six in our gang, an’ if that man Dobson 
is the fighter people say he is, he’ll be watchin’ for 
us as a cat watches for a mouse.” 

“ There may be less danger in goin’ out than in 
stayin’ here. It would be no more than child’s play 
to round us up while we’re loafin’ in this place.” 

“ That’s in case anybody knows where we are,” 
the third man, who now spoke for the first time, 
said thoughtfully, and he who appeared to be the 
leader of the company replied decisively: 

“ There’s no need to hunt for that kind of 
trouble. No livin’ soul would suspect us of doublin’ 
back here after we had left Gray Ledge, an’ there’s 
nothin’ to bring Dobson or any of his crowd here, 
for I had it on good authority that he didn’t count 
on touchin’ this timber for a couple of years.” 

‘‘ The mistake we made was in stoppin’ at the 
hovel,” the driver of the horses suggested. “ It 
was a fool trick to haul up there when we’d laid 
plans to put in the winter here. Then agin, Jake 
must needs mix things by firin’ the buildin’s, which 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


215 


was another silly play, first, ’cause we didn’t make 
anythin’ out of it, an’ second since it naturally set 
Dobson by the ears.” 

“ What’s the sense of harkin’ back to what has 
been done? ” the leader asked petulantly. ** There’s 
no use shootin’ at dead crows; Jake fired the hovel 
because he couldn’t seem to help himself after a 
crowd of babies got the best of us. I’m willin’ to 
admit that we’d better not done it; but don’t pro- 
pose to waste my breath chewin’ it over. We three 
are here, an’ the main question is, where are Mose 
and the others ? ” 

“ Fm allowin’ I can get on their track within 
twenty- four hours, if you fellows say the word,” 
the driver of the horses added eagerly. 

“ An’ by the time you’d done that some of these 
country constables might have you by the heels. 
Then where would Bob an’ I be ? ” 

Snug in this ’ere camp.” 

With no way of gettin’ out except by a long 
tramp over hard trails. We’d have to leave all the 
outfit behind, an’ it strikes me we’ve lost money 
enough on this job without throwin’ away more.” 

“ Then you allow that I’m to stay here with 
you?” the teamster asked. 

“ S’pose we agree to wait twenty- four hours 
longer, an’ then if we haven’t heard from Jake, you 
can take the chances of snoopin’ ’round the coun- 
try?” he who had been called “Bob” suggested. 


2I6 


BOY SCOUTS 


To this the leader agreed, or, at least, he made no 
protest, and the three relapsed into silence, seem- 
ingly giving no heed to anything save the supposed 
pleasure of smoking rank tobacco, the fumes of 
which reached even to Peter’s hiding-place. 

Scoutmaster Masterson heard nothing in the way 
of conversation to interest him during the remainder 
of the forenoon, and then the men went inside the 
camp again, not showing themselves until the after- 
noon was well-nigh spent. 

“ They must have been asleep,” Peter said to 
himself, and if they are going to snooze at this 
rate I sha’n’t stand a very good chance of running 
off the horses, for their eyes will be wide open all 
night.” 

Even though there was good reason to believe the 
intruders might be wakeful, the scoutmaster did 
not consider the question of abandoning his plan. 
He had heard the men suggest that it would be the 
same as a disaster to lose the horses, and was more 
firmly than ever convinced it was the wisest blow 
that could be struck the enemy. 

The men continued sullenly silent as they sat on 
the platform until the sun went down, and Peter 
struggled against the inclination to sleep until it 
really seemed as if he must yield to the desire. 
When night had fully come, he ventured to creep 
out from the thicket, crawling around the side of 
the hill on his hands and knees, not daring to rise 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


217 


to his feet lest his form should be outlined against 
the sky. He even went so far as to visit the horses, 
hoping that by thus letting them see him, there 
would be less danger of their giving an alarm when 
he attempted to lead them away. He was not so in- 
cautious, however, as to neglect every precaution, 
but kept his ears strained for the slightest sound 
which might tell that one of the men was ap- 
proaching. 

The horses had been fed and watered before 
sunset, therefore he had every reason to believe the 
men would not consider it necessary to pay them 
further attention, for in that lonely place there was 
nothing, so the timber thieves evidently believed, 
to disturb the animals. The hours went by less 
drearily than when the scoutmaster was fighting 
against the desire to sleep, for the night was so dark 
that he had little fear of being seen by the enemy 
so long as he remained among the foliage, and at 
least every thirty minutes Peter visited the horses, 
petting and whispering to them by way of becom- 
ing acquainted. 

The springless wagon in which one of the men 
had come was near by the animals, and in it had 
been thrown the harness. As the night grew older 
Scoutmaster Masterson ventured to take out the 
bridles and hang them on a tree near by. He made 
ready so far as was possible for the dangerous ven- 
ture, even reconnoitering the ground from the top 


2I8 


BOY SCOUTS 


of the hill to the dam in order to make certain there 
were no serious obstacles in the course he proposed 
to take. 

It was midnight, as nearly as he could judge, be- 
fore Peter decided to make the final move. He 
bridled the horses, fastened a short strap between 
the two so that the animals would be forced to 
travel side by side; waited while one might have 
counted twenty, to make certain there was no noise 
in the vicinity of the camp, and then, his heart 
thumping until it really seemed to him as if each 
pulsation could be heard a long distance away, he 
led the horses toward the dam, walking between 
them that he might the better set the pace. 

Now and then one of the animals would step on 
a dry branch, breaking it with a crackling noise 
which sounded almost like thunder in the lad’s ears, 
and each time he brought the horses to a halt as he 
waited to learn if the unusual sound had given an 
alarm. Not until he had traversed the Gray Ledge 
trail nearly a mile did he venture to move more 
rapidly. After a time, during which nothing had 
been heard to betoken pursuit, he mounted one of 
the steeds, for, as can well be supposed, he was 
leg-weary with much traveling between Seboois, 
Gray Ledge and the dam. 

That the horses were accustomed to working on 
timbered land could be told by the way they sur- 
mounted such obstacles as huge rocks and fallen 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


219 


trees, and when they had come within a short dis- 
tance of where the Boy Scouts were encamped Peter 
said to himself, breathing freely for the first time 
since he set out: 

There won’t be any bother in driving these 
horses to Seboois, for they seem to know what a 
woods trail is like. I needn’t have been so terribly 
nervous about trying this trick, and Mr. Brown had 
no cause to believe I was risking my life, for it has 
been easier than lying still in the thicket when I 
was so sleepy that it was all I could do to keep my 
eyes open. Oh me! won’t there be a racket up at 
the dam when the timber thieves find that it would 
have been better if that teamster had driven out 
yesterday, instead of waiting twenty-four hours 
longer ! ” 

When he came out from the trail at Gray Ledge 
the first faint light of the new day could be seen 
in the eastern sky, and the temptation to stop there 
long enough to acquaint the cook with the success 
of the venture was very great; but Peter resisted it, 
knowing full well that if Jabe Morse should learn 
of what had been done against the enemy he would 
be literally overcome with terror because of possible 
reprisals. 

“ If I don’t show up before night Mr. Brown will 
know that I’ve turned the trick all right,” he said 
to himself as he guided the horses across the clear- 
ing to the Seboois trail, and then urged the animals 


220 


BOY SCOUTS 


to their best pace, having begun to realize that it 
was within his power, if he could keep awake, to 
return to the Scouts before another night had 
come. 

Peter no longer feared what the timber thieves 
might do in the way of pursuit. They would not 
be aware of their loss until after daybreak, perhaps 
not until the sun had risen, and before they could 
travel as far as Gray Ledge he would be safe and 
snug in Mr. Haley’s boarding-house. 

With no load to drag, the horses were able to 
travel not less than three miles an hour, and it was 
yet early in the forenoon when the scoutmaster 
reined his clumsy steeds in before the door of the 
building where the rider would find a hearty wel- 
come. 

Mr. Haley, hearing the noise of the arrival, came 
out of the house expecting to see strangers, and an 
odd expression appeared on his face as he learned 
that Scoutmaster Masterson had paid him another 
visit. 

‘‘ Well, lad,” he cried boisterously, “ it begins to 
seem like you couldn’t keep away from Seboois, eh ? 
What have you been doin’ ? Huntin’ up a team so’s 
to be independent of Jabe Morse in case he gets into 
a blue funk again ? ” 

Peter was sore and stiff in every joint as he 
slipped down from the back of his steed. As a mat- 
ter of fact he would have been in much better bodily 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


221 


condition if he had walked every step, instead of 
riding without saddle or even blanket on a heavy- 
footed horse. 

‘‘ Fve brought this pair up here for you to keep 
a spell,” the scoutmaster said as he advanced with 
difficulty toward the door of the building. “ You 
see, they belong to the timber thieves, and I allowed 
that if I sneaked ’em off the fellows would come 
to understand that they’d better pull out from the 
dam before snow came.” 

“ These bosses belong to the timber thieves ? ” 
Mr. Haley repeated as if mystified. “ How does it 
happen that they’d let you bring ’em away ? ” 

They didn’t know anything about it till they 
turned out this morning, or I’m allowing they didn’t, 
else I reckon the whole crowd would have been at 
my heels,” Peter replied with a note of triumph in 
his voice. 

You don’t mean to tell me that you — you ” 

Some folks may call it stealing, but I don’t,” 
and the scoutmaster straightened up to look Jim 
Haley full in the face as if to read there his opinion 
of the matter. “ The men were counting on stay- 
ing at the dam quite a spell, and we Scouts would 
have had to spend our time watching them, which 
you know wouldn’t pay if we count on making days’ 
wages out of the contract. I allowed they’d want 
to get away mighty quick if they hadn’t any horses, 
so it was a case of bringing this pair here.” 


222 


BOY SCOUTS 


An’ you had the nerve to sneak the animals 
out from under their very noses, eh? ” Mr. Haley 
cried, literally doubling himself up in an ecstasy of 
delight. “ A little runt like you butted agin three 
toughs an’ come off without a scratch ! ” 

“ It wasn’t anything much to do, because the men 
didn’t have an idea anybody was near enough to 
make trouble,” Peter said modestly, and added in 
a tone of anxiety, Say, Mr. Haley, you wouldn’t 
call it stealing to drive these horses off when it was 
the only way by which I could protect the Scouts ? ” 
“ Stealin’ ? Of course it wasn’t. I’d allow it 
was * despoilin’ the enemy,’ as I’ve heard Richard 
Dobson put it many and many a time. An’ a little 
runt like you got the best — Oh ! but won’t the boss 
hug himself when he hears about it! ” 

“Of course I’m not counting on keeping the 
horses, but just to let them stay here with you till 
the owners come after them. It might be stealing 

if I should use ’em, but I sha’n’t. They’ll be ” 

“ Look here, Peter Masterson, don’t bother that 
wise little head of yours over whether it’s stealin’ 
or not; but come inside where I’ll cook for you the 
best dinner I ever turned out, an’ be proud to do 
it, for you’re showin’ yourself to be quite consider- 
able of a man.” 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE ENEMY 

Jim Haley did as he had proposed, and Scout- 
master Masterson sat himself down to a more gener- 
ous and more varied meal than he had ever before 
seen; but he could not enjoy it as much as he other- 
wise would have done, for the boarding-house 
keeper insisted on his telling again and again the 
story of how he had gained possession of the 
horses, although to Peter it did not seem as if the 
tale was either interesting or exciting, save as it 
served to show that the Boy Scouts might soon rid 
themselves of the enemy. 

You can count it as certain that those fellows 
won’t stay at the dam a great while now, more 
especially if their wangan is runnin^ low. They 
wouldn’t dare come- into Seboois for supplies, an’ it 
would be a big job to tote stuff from Waycross, un- 
less they bought another team, which isn’t reason- 
able to suppose,” Mr. Haley said reflectively. 

With three of the gang in jail, an’ a good team of 
bosses stabled where Richard Dobson can easy put 
an attachment on ’em to pay for the burnin’ of his 
camps, I’m allowin’ the pirates are findin’ that it 
223 


224 


BOY SCOUTS 


ain’t a payin’ job to run off timber from the Gray 
Ledge sections. I reckon they wouldn’t have tried 
it if they’d known that Peter Masterson was the 
lad they’d come up against.” 

“ Don’t rub it in quite so strong, Mr. Haley,’* 
Peter said modestly, his face flushing red with de- 
light because of the boarding-house keeper’s praise. 
“ I haven’t really done anything, for a baby could 

have got away with the horses ” 

Didn’t you mitten on to their outfit ? ” 

‘‘ Yes ; but perhaps if I hadn’t done that Mr. Dob- 
son wouldn’t have lost his camps.” 

Never you mind that part of it, lad. Richard 
Dobson ain’t sheddin’ any tears over the hovel so 
long as you succeeded in gettin’ the best of the 
pirates. This ’ere boss business is goin’ to please 
him way down to the ground. If I can get him over 
the ’phone you must tell the story, an’ I want you 
to make it a long one, ’cause he’ll tumble all over 
himself with chucklin’.” 

“ I’m not going to tell him anything,” the scout- 
master said very decidedly, seizing Mr. Haley by 
the arm to prevent him from gaining the telephone. 

‘‘ Why not? ” 

“ Because he’d think I was a baby to run to him 
with every little thing. After I have gone you may 
tell him that the horses are here, and that I didn’t 
steal them, but just run ’em off so’s the pirates 
would have to leave the dam.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


225 


“ ril guarantee Richard Dobson won’t call that 
trick a ' little thing,’ ” Jim Haley said laughingly. 
‘‘ He’ll enjoy bearin’ every word of the story, an’ 
you must tell it to him.” 

That’s just what I sha’n’t do,” and Peter, ris- 
ing from the table, went to the door. I’m going 
back to Gray Ledge, for if the Scouts don’t see me 
pretty soon Mr. Morse will have a good chance to 
scare the wits out of them with his predictions of 
murder.” 

You’re sure countin’ on gettin’ a little sleep 
before hittin’ the trail again,” and the boarding- 
house keeper seized the lad by the arm as if to hold 
him back. 

“ I must go, Mr. Haley, because all the boys will 
be wondering where I am, and it ain’t anyways cer- 
tain that Jonas, without knowing what I have done, 
mightn’t go up to the dam to find me. Then there 
would be a mix-up, with the Scouts getting the 
worst of it, for after losing their horses the timber 
thieves will keep a mighty sharp watch.” 

Jim Haley used every effort, not only to persuade 
him into going to bed before setting out for Gray 
Ledge, but to urge him to tell Mr. Dobson what 
had been done. To these entreaties Peter turned a 
deaf ear, insisting that it was his duty to show him- 
self to the Scouts with the least possible delay, and 
finally the boarding-house keeper ceased his en- 
treaties. 


226 


BOY SCOUTS 


Have your own way if you must, lad ; but it’s 
a shame not to give Richard Dobson the time of his 
life.” 

You can do all that after I have gone,” the 
scoutmaster said laughingly, and then he set off at 
a rapid pace, forgetting his weariness in the satis- 
faction that had come with Jim Haley’s unstinted 
praise. 

Not until nearly nightfall did he arrive at Gray 
Ledge camp, and then it chanced again that the 
first person he met was Mr. Brown, who was stand- 
ing at the opening of the trail leading to the dam, 
looking around anxiously as if in no slight distress 
of mind. 

How did you happen to come out that way, 
Peter ? I’ve been watching here this last hour, hav- 
ing begun to believe that the pirates had got hold 
of you.” 

I wanted to stop when I went by here just be- 
fore daylight ; but didn’t dare to for fear the Scouts 
would grow frightened when they knew what I had 
done.” 

“ You don’t mean to tell me you carried the 
horses to Seboois ? ” and the cook stared at the 
scoutmaster in surprise. 

** It wasn’t much of a job, because the men hadn’t 
an idea any one was near to make trouble for them. 
Has everything gone on smoothly here ? ” 

** There hasn’t been a hitch. Even Jabe seems to 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


227 


have settled down to the belief that the pirates won’t 
try to work us any more harm, and the Scouts have 
cut ties to beat the band. If we don't get any very 
bad weather you fellows will earn good wages this 
season. But tell me how you did the job ? ” 

Again was Peter forced to tell his story, and he 
had no reason to complain of any lack of interest 
on the part of his hearer. Joe Brown was as elated 
over the success of the plan as had been Jim Haley, 
and did not hesitate to predict confidently that the 
intruders would be driven to abandoning the camp 
at the dam without great loss of time, rather than 
take the chances of being shut in by snow. 

“ You’ve done a good job, lad, and it’ll please 
Richard Dobson; but Fm thinking that you’d best 
keep it a secret from every one but Jonas. If Jabe 
Morse should get hold of it he’d throw a fit, be- 
lieving the timber thieves were on their way to chew 
us all up. Turn in, Peter, for it strikes me that 
you’re needing considerably more than forty winks 
of sleep.” 

“ It’ll be better to show myself to the Scouts, so’s 
to tell them that when I left the dam everything was 
quiet, with no sign that the strangers were count- 
ing on coming this way,” Scoutmaster Masterson 
replied as he walked rapidly away. 

Before the cookee summoned the laborers to sup- 
per Peter had visited every ravine and swamp where 
the boys were working, and it is stating it mildly 


228 


BOY SCOUTS 


to say that he was surprised at seeing how much 
progress had been made. A crew of men accus- 
tomed to such tasks could not have done better, and 
the scoutmaster no longer questioned but that, if 
they were left undisturbed, the Boy Scouts of Pen- 
obscot would be able to prove to the owner of the 
sections that he had made no mistake in giving 
them the contract. To each group of boys he told 
that the men at the dam were apparently sleeping 
when he left; that he had heard no threats 
made, and that the intruders were seemingly 
more concerned regarding their missing com- 
rades, than as to what might be going on at 
Gray Ledge. 

** Then you allow they’ll stay where they are this 
winter?” Jabe Morse asked as he brought his 
steaming horses to a standstill that he might gratify 
his curiosity. 

It isn’t reasonable to suppose they’ll stay there 
after learning that three of their crowd are in 
Penobscot jail,” the scoutmaster replied evasively. 

‘‘ Where do you reckon they’ll go after leavin’ 
the dam ? ” 

“ I haven’t got so far along in my guessing as 
that,” Peter said with a smile. I do believe, how- 
ever, that they’ll strike out for Stillwater, not dar- 
ing to come around this way after knowing what 
has happened to their friends.” 

“ An’ you’re willin’ to hang on here an’ take the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 229 

chances?’^ the teamster insisted, whereupon the 
scoutmaster said gravely: 

I always have been willing to do that much, 
for even if the men were inclined to spend their 
time trying to get the best of a lot of boys, we should 
be able to hold our own against three of them. It 
isn’t reasonable to suppose they’ll stay at the dam 
after snow comes, and, as I said before, the chances 
seem to be that they’ll go out by the way of Still- 
water, rather than give Mr. Dobson an opportunity 
to have them arrested.” 

Mr. Morse drove away apparently contented 
with what he had heard, and just then the voice 
of the cookee could be heard as he shouted the 
warning that supper was ready, at which call all 
the lads, save Jonas, ran at full speed toward the 
camp, rejoicing that the day’s work had come to 
an end with the prospect of a good supper. The 
adjutant lingered behind the other Scouts, linking 
his arm in Peter’s as he said in a low tone: 

“ Now tell me what you didn’t dare let the other 
fellows know.” 

“ What makes you think I’ve been keeping any- 
thing back?” 

“ I could see it in your face when Mr. Morse 
was asking questions. What have you done ? ” 

Driven the horses belonging to the timber 
thieves over to Seboois where Mr. Haley can have 
them in charge.” 


230 


BOY SCOUTS 


'' What? and the adjutant started back in sur- 
prise which bordered on dismay. 

“ That’s what Fve been doing,” and once more 
the scoutmaster told the story of his night’s work, 
concluding by cautioning the adjutant that it must 
be kept a secret lest they have another panic in 
camp. 

“ I should say it must be kept a secret! ” Jonas 
replied emphatically. “ Our teamster wouldn’t stay 
in camp five minutes after hearing of what you have 
done, because of believing that we’d be murdered 
three or four times over. But, Peter, I’m not so 
certain that we sha’n’t have the biggest kind of a 
row with those fellows.” 

How will they know we took the horses ? Why 
shouldn’t they suspect that some one who saw them 
go through Stillwater might have done it, believing, 
because they had come here to steal timber, that 
they wouldn’t dare make any very big row ? ” 

It may be they’ll get that idea ; but I’m believ- 
ing they’ll lay the blame on us,” and now there was 
an expression of deepest anxiety on Jonas’s face, 
thus proving that the scoutmaster was in the right 
when he decided to keep the matter a secret from 
the Scouts lest they grow alarmed, for if the adju- 
tant was frightened, what would have been the 
mental condition of the more timorous? 

Suppose they do claim that we took the horses, 
and come over here to pick a row, don’t you believe 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


231 

our whole crowd, with Mr. Brown to bear a hand, 
can stand them off ? 

“ Yes, unless they take us by surprise.” 

“ That’s just what we mustn’t allow them to do. 
It’s our business, Jonas, to keep a sharp watch night 
and day until we know for certain that those fel- 
lows have left the dam. The work needn’t suffer 
because of our much the same as standing guard, 
for we can cut ties and keep our eyes open at the 
same time.” 

How would it do for me to go to the dam to- 
night, so’s to be there in the morning, when I could 
see what they were about?” 

There’s too much danger in anything of that 
kind. Of course they’ll be on their guard from 
now on, and if you should be caught spying there’s 
a fair chance we’d never see you again. Those fel- 
lows are desperate characters, else they wouldn’t 
go around stealing timber, and now you can count 
it as certain that they are in a bad temper.” 

Eben was shouting for the scoutmaster and the 
adjutant at the full strength of his lungs, crying 
out when Peter answered that he was coming: 

“If you were the cookee in this camp you’d want 
every Scout in the crew to come to grub when he 
was called, especially at supper time, for it ain’t 
anything like fun to wash dishes after dark when a 
fellow has nothing but a couple of smoky lanterns 
to see by.” 


232 


BOY SCOUTS 


Clean the lanterns, Eben,” Peter cried cheerily. 
'' Wipe some of the smoke off, and then you can 
see better.” 

“ That’s right; be funny. If I’d had nothing to 
do but loaf around the dam watching the pirates, I 
could afford to be funny; but I’m tired, and want 
to get to bed.” 

'' That’s queer,” and there was a grim smile on 
the scoutmaster’s face. “ Do you know that even 
after loafing around the dam so long I’m kind’er 
hankering for the bunk, and would like to stay in 
it twenty-four hours on a stretch.” 

‘‘ I don’t get the chance to stay in the bunk as 
long as any other Scout in the crowd,” Eben grum- 
bled. “ Mr. Brown yells for me to turn out before 
there are any signs of daylight, and you fellows 
snooze almost an hour longer than does the cookee.” 

I sure would be willing to swap places with you 
for two or three days,” the scoutmaster said 
gravely, and the cookee retorted : 

You’d get sick of the job between breakfast 
and dinner, for it ain’t what can be called a snap.” 

There’s just a bit of hard work, now and then, 
in such loafing as I’ve been having,” Peter said 
grimly, and the conversation was brought to a close 
as the three lads entered the hut. 

More than one of the Scouts were surprised that 
evening because Joe Brown was so solicitous re- 
garding the scoutmaster’s welfare. It was seldom 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


233 


that the cook paid any attention to those at table, 
save to see that the dishes were replenished when- 
ever emptied ; but at this meal he almost the same as 
fed Peter by hand, giving to him the choicest of 
everything, and, later, even going so far in his 
kindness as to insist that the scoutmaster use one 
of his blankets to the end that his bed might be 
the softer. Again, in the morning, instead of 
shouting loudly for the boys to turn out,’’ he 
awakened each lad softly, cautioning him against 
making a noise lest the scoutmaster be disturbed, 
and Jabe Morse said sarcastically when he had fin- 
ished his breakfast : 

“ Any body ’d think Peter Masterson had been 
turned into eggs, you’re so mighty careful of him. 
I can’t make out why he’s to lay there in the bunk 
when the rest of us are called on to duff into the 
hardest kind of hard work.” 

There are a good many other things you can’t 
make out, Jabe, and I’m fearing you won’t live 
long enough to get the rightful hang of what is 
going on under your very nose.” 

The forenoon was nearly half spent when Scout- 
master Masterson awakened from his long sleep, 
and then he would have found fault with Joe Brown 
because he had been permitted to remain so long in 
bed, if the cook had not said in a decided tone : 

“ In the woods the cook is boss of the hovel, so 
it won’t do you any good to grumble, because I’m 


234 boy scouts 

well within my rights as they are known in every 
lumber camp/' 

Because Eben was present, Peter could not make 
any very decided protest lest that which he wished 
to keep a secret should be made known, and as soon 
as he had eaten the breakfast which Joe Brown had 
kept hot for him, he went out to do his share of 
tie-cutting. 

The air was cold, with a promise of snow, when 
the Scouts were awakened next morning, and Peter 
said gleefully as he came up from the stream after 
having had a generous bath in icy cold water : 

‘‘ This is the kind of a day when a fellow can put 
in the big licks without getting too warm. It stands 
us in hand to rush things just now, for unless all 
signs fail we’re going to have snow, which is what 
Mr. Morse is needing if he counts on keeping his 
horses from growing stale.” 

To this cheery remark the teamster took objec- 
tions by declaring surlily that he and his horses did 
more work than both patrols of Scouts put to- 
gether ; but no one gave heed to his words owing to 
the fact that all were rejoicing at signs of snow, 
when it would be possible to yard their ties where 
they might be turned over to Richard Dobson or 
his representative. 

Until noon Peter and Jonas worked together, 
talking guardedly regarding the enemy when there 
was no one near at hand to overhear them, and at 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


235 


other times congratulating each other because it 
now seemed positive they would be able to earn con- 
siderably more than enough to pay their debts. 

Eben had just made the rounds, shouting the 
welcome summons to dinner, and the scoutmaster 
and his adjutant were walking slowly toward the 
camp when Jabe Morse came out from behind the 
building at full speed, unreasoning terror written on 
every line of his countenance. 

‘‘ The timber thieves are cornin' ! " he whispered 
hoarsely, “ an' now is the time when we're bound to 
catch it hot! If you want to get away, hang 'round 
in the bushes till I hook up the bosses, an' we'll 
strike the trail I " 

Before Peter could reply to these words of fear 
he saw, coming out from amid the foliage on the 
trail to the dam, that one of the timber thieves who 
had driven into the camp with the horses which 
were in Jim Haley's keeping at Seboois, and he had 
no doubt but that the others were behind him. 

“ Find something that will serve as a weapon. 
Jonas," he whispered hurriedly. I reckon we're 
in for a hot time, as Mr. Morse says; but those 
fellows sha'n't drive us away ! " 

As he spoke Peter picked up from the cook's stack 
of fuel a four-foot length of birch sapling, handling 
the stick as if it were a cane, while the adjutant 
seized upon an ax, and the two awaited the ap- 
proach of the enemy. 


236 


BOY SCOUTS 


Nearly all the Scouts were inside the camp, 
having been in haste to get dinner, and it seemed 
much as if the teamster had been the only one to 
note the coming of the stranger. Just for an in- 
stant Peter believed he ought to summon all his 
comrades that they might put themselves in a state 
of defense; but he refrained from so doing as the 
thought came that it might not be well to form a 
line of battle until knowing exactly what were the 
newcomers' intentions. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


A SEARCHING INQUIRY 

The scoutmaster and his adjutant stood on the 
alert for the first offensive move which might be 
made by the enemy, and confidently expecting that 
the other two men were close behind this fellow 
who, without making a sign or speaking a word, 
had so terrified Jabe Morse that he was shaking 
like a man with the palsy as he strove to harness 
the horses to the heavy wagon. 

Which of the Scouts gave the alarm Peter never 
knew; but certain it is that while the stranger was 
coming into the clearing, traversing a distance of 
not more than seventy feet from the place where 
the scoutmaster first had a glimpse of him, every 
lad came out of the camp like a bee that has been 
disturbed during swarming time. All clustered just 
outside the door, in which stood the cook and 
cookee craning their necks to look over the heads 
of the boys in order to learn what had happened to 
cause such a sudden and extraordinary stampede 
from the dinner table. 

The stranger apparently gave no heed to the 
237 


238 


BOY SCOUTS 


swarm of Scouts that hovered near the building as 
if seeking such protection as might be afforded by 
its walls, but continued directly on until he stood in 
front of Peter and Jonas, when he asked in a curt 
tone which gave evidence of anger : 

“ Which one of you allows he’s the boss of this 
crew ? ” 

“ I’m the scoutmaster,” Peter replied, shifting 
the birch club from one hand to the other, for he 
fully expected an immediate attack, and Joe Brown 
must have been of the same mind, for he forced his 
way roughly through the group of Scouts until he 
stood by the side of those who were seemingly 
threatened. 

Have you been around here ever since the 
lumber camp caught fire? ” 

We’ve been here since your crowd burned us 
out,” Scoutmaster Masterson said stoutly, deter- 
mined not to mince matters with this representative 
of the timber thieves, and not a little surprised be- 
cause the other two men failed to put in an appear- 
ance. 

Have you seen a pair of bosses roamin’ ’round 
here loose?” the man asked, and the Scouts who 
were not in the secret believed he was asking the 
question simply that he might have an excuse for 
delaying an attack until the arrival of his comrades. 

‘‘ There is a pair in the lean-to which belong to 
Mr. Morse,” and as Peter spoke the face of the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


239 


teamster, wearing an expression of terror which 
was almost comical in its intensity, could be seen 
peering around the corner of the shed. 

“ I’m not talkin’ about the team you’re usin’ ; 
but a pair that was stolen from our camp,” the man 
cried angrily, and Peter asked with an expression 
of innocence: 

‘‘ Where is your camp ? ” 

“ Never mind about that part of it ! What I 
want to know is whether you’ve seen a pair of 
bosses driven past here ? ” 

Has any one seen a strange team around this 
clearing? ” Peter asked of his Scouts, and, as a mat- 
ter of course, all the lads save Jonas replied in the 
negative, speaking in tones which gave ample evi- 
dence of truth. 

Look here. Mister,” and the man half-turned 
to face Joe Brown. ‘‘ I didn’t come here to swap 
talk with a lot of babies, so s’posen you do business 
with me.” 

“ I’m not so certain that I’ve got any call to do 
business with a pirate like you,” the cook cried 
angrily. “ You fellows burned our camp, counting 
to drive us away from this place to which we had 
been sent by the owner, and having done that you 
come back allowing that we’re bound to dance when 
you fiddle. This much I’m willing to say : I haven’t 
seen a pair of strange horses near this camp, and 
having said it I’m through with such as you.” 


240 


BOY SCOUTS 


Don’t get on your ear, or it may be the worse 
for you!” the stranger cried threateningly. “A 
pair of bosses has been stolen from our camp, an’ 
there’s nobody around here but you an’ these cubs 
who could have driven ’em off ! ” 

“ I’ll ask the same question Peter did, and that 
is : Where’s your camp that you’re talking about ? 
Richard Dobson owns all these sections within 
twenty miles or so, and to my knowledge he hasn’t 
given leave for any one to locate outside this place.” 

‘‘ An’ I’ll say to you as I did to the cub who is 
puttin’ on so much style, that it’s none of your busi- 
ness where our camp stands.” 

“ Well, now. I’m not so certain of that,” and the 
cook spoke in a tone well calculated to arouse the 
intruder’s wrath. “ We’re looking after Richard 
Dobson’s property in these parts, and I allow it’s 
up to us to know if strangers have squatted on his 
land.” 

You’re makin’ me tired, an’ it ain’t any two to 
one that you won’t get into trouble by bein’ so 
pert ! ” the fellow cried in a rage, and Peter clutched 
his club yet more firmly, while the other Scouts 
looked hurriedly around for that which would serve 
as weapons, for all felt confident a battle was near 
at hand. 

“ He is alone ; the other fellows didn’t come with 
him, and he won’t dare to kick up very much of a 
row, because of knowing that he’s bound to get the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 241 

worst of it,” the adjutant whispered to the scout- 
master, as Joe Brown said emphatically: 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you 
can come here and play the bully. We’re ready for 
all the trouble you may scare up, and won’t waste 
many words before beginning it on our own ac- 
count.” 

'^You’ve stolen my bosses, an’ I’ll have you 
in jail within the next twenty-four hours; but 
I don’t count on waitin’ that long before takin’ the 
team!” 

As he spoke the man went swiftly to the lean-to, 
evidently believing the animals were hidden there, 
and his move was so unexpected that no one had 
time to check him. All followed without delay, 
however, and when Peter arrived at the door of the 
shed he saw Mr. Morse, shaking with fear as he 
strove to prevent the fellow from entering. 

'' These are my bosses, an’ there’s no need for 
you to pick a row with me, ’cause I’m jest 
pullin’ out for Seboois. I don’t know anythin’ 
about your team, an’ can swear it hasn’t been near 
this camp.” 

The stranger was not inclined to accept Jabe’s 
word as truth, but roughly pushed his way past 
the frightened teamster until he could have a full 
view of the animals. By this time the cook had 
found a passage through the huddled group of 
Scouts to the door of the lean-to, arriving there 


242 


BOY SCOUTS 


while the man, who evidently believed the babies ” 
would not dare make an attack upon him, was stand- 
ing facing the interior of the shed. 

Joe Brown literally leaped upon the intruder, 
seizing him by the throat, and with a display of 
strength which surprised even those who knew him 
best, hurled the fellow to the ground, dragging him 
a dozen yards from where Jabe Morse stood quak- 
ing with terror lest his own team should be taken 
from him. 

“ Now listen to me, you miserable specimen of a 
timber thief, and if you dare to make any cheap 
talk the trouble you spoke about will come to you 
good and plenty,’’ the cook cried, apparently beside 
himself with rage as he pinned the fellow securely 
to the ground. We’ve had enough of you and the 
crowd behind you, and don’t propose to stand for 
any more. It would have been a simple matter to 
have sent for constables to drag your gang out of 
this section; but I’m allowing we can do it with- 
out help, and from this on we’ll make it mighty 
warm for the first of you pirates who shows him- 
self. There’ll be no warning given or expected ; but 
it’ll be rough and tumble from the start. Now get 
on your feet and strike the trail, else I won’t be 
answerable for what’ll happen to you ! ” 

Mr. Brown released his hold on the fellow’s 
throat as he spoke, and stepped back two or three 
paces to give him opportunity to rise, which he did 


IN A LUMBER CAMP, 243 

without delay, scrambling to his feet in a rage as 
he screamed : 

‘‘ I’ll make this crowd of cubs wish they’d never 
been born ! What we did when we burned the hovel 
won’t be a marker compared with the dose that’s 
cornin’ to you before to-morrow mornin’ ! ” 

“ Better not waste breath threatening, for you 
don’t scare us a little bit,” and the cook advanced 
menacingly, the fellow giving way before him. 
“ You’ve got less than two minutes in which to 
leave this camp, and if you don’t take advantage of 
the chance there won’t be enough left of you to 
burn another hovel ! ” 

Wait a bit, Mr. Brown,” Peter cried, stepping 
forward until he faced the enraged man. “We may 
as well tell him before he goes that three of his 
gang are in Penobscot jail, and the horses he has 
been hunting for can be found at Mr. Haley’s in 
Seboois.” 

“ Who took them there ? ” the fellow screamed, 
and Scoutmaster Masterson replied without show 
of fear: 

“ I ran them off. Did you suppose we hadn’t any 
idea of where your crowd was hiding? One of us 
‘ babies ’ have kept you in sight these last four 
days ” 

“ So you’re the thief, eh? ” and the man lunged 
forward as if to strike a blow; but Joe Brown 
quickly stepped between him and the scoutmaster, 


244 


BOY SCOUTS 


whereupon he evidently thought better of the mat- 
ter. We’ll have you in jail before mornin’ ! ” 

You seem to be laying out a good deal of work 
for yourself ’twixt now and morning,” Joe Brown 
cried mockingly, “ and unless you get a move on 
there won’t be time to ’tend to it all. You’ve been 
told where the team is, and there’s nothing to pre- 
vent your trying to get out a warrant for this lad, 
though I’m of the opinion that you’ll have an up- 
hill job to do it. Now get out of here, and don’t 
let the grass grow under your feet, for I can’t hold 
myself a great while longer.” 

There was that in the cook’s tone and attitude 
which told the intruder that he was in imminent 
danger of violence, and he prudently retreated to- 
ward the trail leading to the dam, crying in a rage 
as he disappeared amid the foliage : 

We’ll make it our business to clean out this 
camp before sunrise, an’ when that’s been done the 
cub who stole our bosses will find himself in a 
mighty tight box ! ” 

The scoutmaster and the adjutant would have 
followed to make certain that the fellow continued 
on toward the dam; but Joe Brown called them 
back, saying in a tone so loud that the retreating 
timber thief could not have failed to hear the words : 

“ Don’t pay any more attention to him, lads. 
Dinner is getting cold, and it stands you in hand to 
eat it, no matter how many pirates are hanging 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


245 


around. I’m hoping he and the others of his gang 
will come as he threatens, because we’ll make it 
mighty interesting for them.” 

The Scouts were so nearly bewildered at learn- 
ing that Peter Masterson had run off the horses 
belonging to the timber thieves, that they obeyed 
Mr. Brown’s command as if in a daze; but five min- 
utes later, while all, with the exception of Jabe 
Morse, were seated at table, the scoutmaster was 
overwhelmed with questions. There was nothing 
to be done, if he desired that the Scouts should 
satisfy their hunger and get to work without fur- 
ther delay, but tell the whole story, which he did as 
briefly as possible, and when he had come to an end 
the frightened teamster was standing in the door- 
way. 

Now see what you’ve done, Peter Masterson! ” 
Jabe cried reproachfully. ‘‘ Wasn’t satisfied to let 
those fellows hang out at the dam where they 
couldn’t do us any harm, but must go to stirrin’ 
’em up in the worst way! Now we know they’ll 
make it hot for us, an’ he who stays at Gray Ledge 
an hour longer is a fool ! ” 

“ There’s nothing to prevent your pulling out this 
very minute, Mr. Morse,” Peter said quietly. “ Now 
that there are signs of a snowstorm we’ll be need- 
ing a team badly; but Mr. Haley has promised to 
send one in within an hour after you go out, so 
we won’t suffer very much.” 


BOY SCOUTS 


246 

The scoutmaster had expected to see signs of 
fear on the faces of his Scouts when they learned 
that he had run off the horses belonging to the tim- 
ber thieves, nor was he disappointed. Every lad 
in the camp, whether timorous or courageous, under- 
stood that now, since such a telling blow had been 
delivered to the intruders, it was positive the men 
would make reprisals. The war had begun when 
the injured dared assert their rights by trying to 
cripple the aggressors. 

It was not Peter’s intention, however, to let Mr. 
Morse frighten the Scouts from their work if it 
could be avoided, and he began quietly, calling upon 
Joe Brown now and then for his opinion, to put the 
matter squarely, declaring that the timber thieves 
were little less than outlaws, who would think more 
about keeping out of jail than of taking good 
chances of being arrested by spending valuable time 
paying off scores which they themselves had pro- 
voked. 

‘‘ When those fellows at the dam know to a cer- 
tainty that three of their gang are in Penobscot 
jail, and the horses are at Seboois where Mr. Dob- 
son will most likely attach them legally in a suit for 
damages arising from the burning of the hovel, 
they’ll come to understand that this part of the 
country is getting too hot for them. You can make 
up your minds that they will hunt cover instead of 
bothering about us. What do you think, Mr. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 247 

Brown ? ’’ and the scoutmaster turned to the cook, 
who was standing by the stove looking through the 
window from which a view of the trail to the dam 
could be had. 

So far as I’m concerned, it wouldn’t bother me 
a little bit if I knew that all three of the men would 
come around here trying to raise a row, inside of 
an hour,” Joe Brown said grimly. ‘‘ At the same 
time I don’t believe, after knowing what’s been done 
at Seboois, they’ll make any move except to save 
their own skins. Unless all the weather signs fail, 
we’ll have snow before to-morrow night, in which 
case those fellows will be up against it good and 
hard.” 

An’ the harder they’re up against it the harder 
they’ll hit us,” Jabe Morse said mournfully. The 
only safe plan is to pull out for Seboois while 
there’s time. By leavin’ everythin’ here we can 
travel light, an’ get there before dark.” 

Would you advise that we leave the outfit which 
has cost us so much money, and let those fellows 
destroy it, in case they come this way ? ” Peter asked 
in surprise, and the teamster replied in a shaky 
voice : 

It would be better they played hob with every- 
thin’, the ties we’ve cut as well as the outfit, than for 
us to stay here an’ be chewed all up.” 

Jabe, you’re a coward of the first water, and 
if I was the boss of this ’ere camp I’d see to it that 


248 


BOY SCOUTS 


you struck the trail for Seboois within the next 
five minutes, whether you wanted to go or not,” 
Joe Brown cried angrily, and Jabe whined : 

There’s no need for anybody to drive me out 
of a place like this, for I’m goin’ jest as soon as I 
get a bite to eat.” 

Perhaps if the teamster had not shown himself 
quite so much of a coward some of the boys might 
have been inclined to follow him; but he had given 
such a pitiable exhibition of fear that even the more 
timid of the Scouts would have been ashamed to 
take his advice. Jabe seated himself at the table 
and began to eat greedily, thus showing that his ap- 
petite was even stronger than his fear, and Peter, 
giving no further heed to the teamster, began dis- 
cussing the situation with his comrades, taking 
good care to point out the fact that the timber 
thieves had scant time in which to look after their 
own safety. 

'‘We know, from what I heard at the dam, that 
they were only waiting for the other three to come 
back,” the scoutmaster said. " Now they’ve heard 
that the fellows are in Penobscot jail, and their 
horses where it will be impossible to come at them, 
whatever they may do to us, it is almost the same 
as certain they’ll run away. You can put it down 
as a fact that they won’t venture any nearer Seboois 
than they are now.” 

" Instead of talking so long about that gang, it 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


249 


strikes me we’d better get back to our work,” Jonas 
interrupted. ‘‘No one here is going to lose very 
much sleep over those fellows, except it is Mr. 
Morse, and if a snowstorm is as near at hand as 
Mr. Brown predicts, it’s our business to make the 
most of this day.” 

Jerry Simpson, Sam Merrill and Fred Howe 
went out hurriedly after this bit of advice; but 
Peter and Jonas lingered to see what the other 
Scouts were inclined to do. Only during a few 
seconds did any of the company hesitate, and then 
every lad followed the leaders, leaving Mr. Morse 
at table swallowing food in huge portions as if his 
very life depended upon consuming the greatest 
possible quantity within the shortest space of time. 

“ I’m allowing that our trouble is about the same 
as over,” Joe Brown said as he followed the scout- 
master and the adjutant to the scene of their labors. 
“ The Scouts have had their backbones stiffened by 
the cowardice of Jabe, and there isn’t one of ’em 
who’ll follow if he goes, which I doubt, because he 
don’t really dare to strike the trail alone, owing to 
the fear that the pirates may overtake him.” 

From that time until night had so nearly come 
that it was impossible for the tie-cutters to see what 
they were about, every Scout labored with a will, 
and when, finally, they answered the long delayed 
call to supper, everything on their part was in readi- 
ness for the coming storm. There was no longer 


250 


BOY SCOUTS 


any doubt as to whether the cook’s predictions would 
be fulfilled. Already was the wind moaning amid 
the trees, bringing now and then a particle of frost 
like the tip of a white feather, and Peter said in a 
tone of satisfaction as he followed the last of his 
Scouts into the camp : 

‘‘ I reckon we’re as near ready for snow as we 
can be, and the sooner it comes the better I’ll be 
pleased. Hello, Mr. Morse, I thought you allowed 
to start for Seboois right away after dinner?” 

‘‘ I had to wait to set a shoe on one of the bosses, 
an’ after I finished that job it was too late to go,” 
was the sulky reply. 

Why didn’t you come out to work ? ” 

“ Because I’ve knocked off, or what’s the same 
thing. I count on leavin’ at daybreak.” 

“ I’ll give you an order on Mr. Haley for the 
wages due you; but of course I sha’n’t make any 
account of this afternoon because you didn’t work 
when it was possible,” and Peter took his Scout’s 
note-book from the shelf behind the stove, calling 
upon Jonas to help him figure the amount due the 
teamster. 

‘‘ You needn’t be in such a bloomin’ hurry, ’cause 
if it storms in the mornin’ of course I shall hug the 
camp, an’ it can be done then,” Mr. Morse mut- 
tered, and Joe Brown winked meaningly at the 
scoutmaster. 


CHAPTER XIX- 


A CRY FOR HELP 

While the Scouts had been doing what they 
might to make ready for a storm, the cook and his 
assistant were not idle. They had toted a plentiful 
supply of water from the spring, and cut and 
brought into the camp a huge pile of fuel, for it 
might be necessary to keep a fire going throughout 
the night, so rapidly had the temperature fallen. 
The boys had taken the precaution to bring in the 
axes and other tools, lest they be buried past re- 
covery until the snow melted, and, despite Mr. 
Morsels protests, stored them in the lean-to. 

“ There won’t be room for my bosses to move 
around,” he grumbled when Peter told him that it 
was useless to argue. I didn’t come out here to 
take chances against timber thieves as well as run 
the risk of havin’ my team lamed by failin’ over a 
lot of axes.” 

‘‘If you had waited until arriving at Seboois be- 
fore fixing that shoe, there wouldn’t be any danger 
the horses might lame themselves,” Jonas said laugh- 
ingly. “ Fasten their halters a bit shorter, and 
251 


252 


BOY SCOUTS 


then there’ll be no show of their getting mixed up 
with the tools. Besides, you’re counting to leave at 
daybreak, and between now and then you might 
stay in the lean-to watching the animals.” 

“ I had it in mind to pull out bright an’ early,” 
Jonas said sulkily; “but it begins to look so much 
like a storm that I’m afraid I’ll have to hang on a 
spell longer.” 

“ In which case you’ll do your full share of work, 
and be paid for it,” the scoutmaster said decisively. 
“ I’m not afraid to start for Seboois this very min- 
ute, to bring in another team, if you’re counting on 
remaining idle until it pleases you to leave.” 

“ There isn’t room here for another pair of 
bosses,” and Mr. Morse appeared surprised because 
such a suggestion had been made. 

“ We’ll make room by turning yours out if you 
refuse to use them in our work, so don’t make the 
mistake of being rusty just because you’ve been 
scared out of a year’s growth,” and having said 
this in a tone which admitted of no argument, the 
scoutmaster went from the lean-to into the camp, 
leaving the teamster in a state of bewilderment, for 
it was unusual to hear Peter Masterson speak in 
such a tone. 

“Been having trouble with Jabe?” Mr. Brown 
asked as the scoutmaster entered, and the latter re- 
plied grimly : 

“ After getting along so well with our contract. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


253 


and having everything in shape for a good season’s 
work, I’m not going to fight members of our own 
company as well as timber thieves,” was the de- 
cided reply. “We must have a pair of horses here 
the day after this storm clears away, and Mr. Morse 
will pull out, or do his full share of the work.” 

“ Now you’re coming to your senses, Peter,” the 
cook said approvingly. “ You’ve handled this 
crowd like as if they were eggs, and I must admit 
that you’ve kept ’em at work ; but the time has come, 
according to my way of thinking, when you need 
to hold a firm hand over them as can sing but 
won’t.” 

Peter was not disposed to continue such a con- 
versation lest the Scouts come to believe he was 
threatening them. Besides, supper was on the table 
and he had his appetite with him, therefore it was 
better to get all the comfort and pleasure possible 
after an exceedingly hard day’s work. 

Mr. Morse came in before the Scouts had fairly 
begun the meal, and took his accustomed place at 
table as if there had never been any question of his 
ceasing work. 

Outside the wind roared among the trees, beating 
against the walls of the little camp to find an en- 
trance, while the air was so full of frost that the 
stove, filled to its utmost capacity with fuel, and 
glowing red with heat, did little more than warm 
comfortably the small apartment. Both lanterns 


254 


BOY SCOUTS 


were lighted and burning brightly; the table was 
much the same as groaning under the weight of 
smoking food which sent forth most appetizing 
odors, and there was not a Scout in the company 
who did not realize how snugly they were housed 
against the coming storm. 

Joe Brown told entertaining stories as he played 
the part of waiter to the hungry lads, while Eben 
stood at the stove replenishing the supply of coffee 
or frying more bacon, and, take it all in all, it was 
the most satisfactory and pleasurable meal that had 
been served to the Scouts at Gray Ledge. Before 
Mr. Morse, who was last at table, had satisfied his 
hunger the snow began to fall, coming against the 
two small windows with a rush which told that 
there was an ample supply behind it, and Scout- 
master Masterson said in a tone of deepest content 
as he lay in the bunk rolled in his blankets : 

Things are sure coming our way. I did think 
it might be well for us to stand guard against the 
timber thieves ; but there’s no chance of their coming . 
this night, however eager they may be to chew us 
up, so we can take our rest in peace. I only hope 
that the fellow who was here got back to the dam 
before the storm broke, else he’d have hard sled- 
ding to find his way. I don’t suppose he knows the 
trail any too well, and to follow it in the night with 
the snow coming down as it is now, would be a job 
I shouldn’t care to tackle, even though after last 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 255 

summer’s work I ought to be able to find every 
rock and root in the path.” 

‘‘ I’m allowing he got back soon after dark, if he 
didn’t fool away any time,” Joe Brown said care- 
lessly as he dished up a fresh supply of food for 
himself and Eben. ‘‘ A man who had knocked 
around in these woods to any extent couldn’t fail 
of knowing that a storm was mighty near at hand, 
and wouldn’t loiter while hunting cover.” 

The camp at the dam won’t be any too com- 
fortable to live in while the wind howls as it does 
now,” Jonas said half to himself. It wasn’t built 
to be used in weather like this, for the logs 
haven’t even been chinked, and I reckon the snow 
is sifting through in great shape, because the hut, 
standing on the hill, is exposed to the full fury of 
the gale.” 

‘‘ Most likely they had sense enough to lay in a 
good supply of fuel, and if the fellows have plenty 
of blankets it’ll be possible to make a decent kind of 
shift till they can pull out,” Joe Brown said as if 
the matter was of little moment. ‘‘ I’ve spent a sea- 
son in a hovel so open to the weather that the lads 
would find two or three inches of snow on their 
blankets after it had been storming all night, and 
while we wasn’t what you might really call snug, I 
don’t remember that we suffered very much.” 

It don’t look as if I’d be able to strike the trail 
in the mornin’,” Mr. Morse said as he finally rose 


256 BOY SCOUTS 

from the table and stood trying to peer out through 
the window. 

“ Then you’ll have a chance to break the roads 
for us,” Peter replied, and although he spoke in a 
laughing tone, the teamster must have understood 
that he would be forced to do his full share of work 
while he remained at Gray Ledge. 

“ The Seboois trail drifts mighty bad when the 
wind holds as it is now,” Jabe continued after a 
brief pause. “ It’ll be quite a tussle for the first 
team that goes through.” 

Some one must break it out, and it may as well 
be you as anybody else,” Joe Brown suggested, 
whereupon the teamster suddenly remembered that 
it was his duty to make certain the horses hadn’t 
backed into the collection of tools which had been 
stacked up behind them. 

Taking one of the lanterns he went out, great 
wreaths of snow finding entrance when the door 
was opened, thus giving good evidence of the fury 
of the gale, and causing Joe Brown to say with the 
air of a prophet : 

“ You never see winter starting in with a rush, as 
it’s doing now, without being sure that we won’t 
suffer from lack of snow. I’m predicting that you 
lads don’t see bare ground again until this ’ere con- 
tract is finished. We’ll have good hauling in a 
couple of days, and then you can hustle those ties 
into the yard. When a crew begins yarding it al- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


257 

ways seems to me that the season’s work is con- 
siderably more than half done.” 

“ That won’t be true in this job,” Jonas said 
cheerily as he crept into the bunk by the side of 
Peter. ‘‘ We’ve got to cut a good many more ties 
before it’ll be possible to figure days’ wages on the 
contract.” 

You’ll do that and a good deal more, lad,” Mr. 
Brown added in a tone of conviction, and then the 
camp was filled with whirling wreaths of snow as 
Mr. Morse opened the door on his return. 

“ It’s a mighty wild night outside. I’m tellin’ you 
boys,” the teamster said in a friendly tone as he 
hung the lantern in its accustomed place and 
crouched close beside the glowing stove. ’Pears 
like I never knew it to grow cold so quick. Winter 
has come with a rush, an’ there’s no mistake 
about it.” 

Feeling a bit safer now that you know the tim- 
ber thieves can’t get at us for quite a while yet, 
eh ? ” the cook asked laughingly ; and apparently 
without shame because of the cowardice he had dis- 
played, Jabe said with a long-drawn breath of re- 
lief : 

There’s no denyin’ but that it helps out mightily, 
this knowin’ that them as are thirstin’ for our blood 
can’t get here to cut our throats.” 

At this remark all the boys laughed, the cook 
joining in heartily, which so discouraged Mr. Morse 


258 


BOY SCOUTS 


that he made his preparations for a night’s rest by 
crawling into that portion of the bunk allotted to 
the use of the teamster. During an hour or more 
the Scouts enjoyed themselves fully, listening to the 
roaring of the wind and the beating of the snow 
against the windows, while Joe Brown kept the 
stove filled with fuel and one or another of the lads 
told stories. Then this boy and that slipped uncon- 
sciously over into dreamland, until all were sleeping 
soundly, when the cook, making certain everything 
inside the building was as it should be, stretched 
himself out for a well-earned time of rest. 

It seemed to Scoutmaster Masterson as if he had 
hardly more than fallen asleep when he was par- 
tially aroused by the sound of a human voice from 
the outside; but after raising himself on his elbow 
an instant he sank back prepared to go to sleep 
again, telling himself that it was only the howling 
of the wind which had disturbed his slumbers. Be- 
fore his eyelids closed again, however, the noise 
was repeated, and this time he fancied it might be 
a cry for help, although, so he said to himself, that 
could not be a fact, for there was no one in the 
vicinity of Gray Ledge who might be in need of 
assistance. 

Again he believed he heard the cry, and, decid- 
edly disturbed in mind, he slipped down from the 
bunk, arousing Joe Brown as he whispered lest his 
comrades should be awakened: 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


259 

It sounds as if somebody was crying for help. 
Fve heard the noise three times, and ” 

It’s the wind, Peter,” the cook replied sleepily. 
‘‘ Many a time in a storm like this I’ve heard what 
was like to a man’s voice; but yet I knew it was the 
howling of the storm. Get back into the bunk, or 
you’ll freeze.” 

Peter waited to re-fill the stove with wood, and 
then was on the point of climbing upon the shelf- 
like bed again when the cry rang out once more, 
causing Mr. Brown to open his eyes very suddenly. 

That did sound like somebody shouting,” he 
said thoughtfully ; ‘‘ but of course it can’t be, for 
there isn’t a living being between here and Seboois, 
or the dam.” 

“ Is it possible Mr. Haley might have sent some 
one in with a message from Mr. Dobson?” Peter 
asked as he lighted the lantern, now so thoroughly 
awake that it was useless to go to bed immediately. 

‘‘ Sent nothing,” was the scornful reply. “ Jim 
Haley wasn’t born in the woods not to know the 
signs of a storm when they were as plain as we 
saw them this afternoon. He ain’t the man to send 
any one who couldn’t get here before dark. Put 
out the light and go to bed; surely you ain’t so 
simple as to go prowling around on a night like 
this when you might freeze to death, just because 
you heard the howling of the ” 

Mr. Brown ceased speaking very suddenly, for 


26 o 


BOY SCOUTS 


at that moment the cry rang out even aboye the 
tumult of the storm, and he came from his bunk as 
though moved by a steel spring, saying hurriedly: 

“ I reckon you and I must take a little stroll out- 
side, no matter how bad the weather. That sure 
was a man’s voice, and if there’s a human being ex- 
posed to this gale he’s getting it mighty rough. Put 
on all the clothing you’ve got, Peter, for it wouldn’t 
be many minutes before a fellow froze stiff. 
Throw a blanket around your shoulders.” 

Joe Brown was suiting the action to the words 
as he spoke, and by the time he had come to an end 
was ready for the disagreeable stroll.” 

Shall I waken the other fellows ? ” Peter asked 
as he obeyed orders hurriedly. 

Not a bit of it ; there’s no sense in dragging 
them outside, for we two can do the trick as well 
as a dozen.” 

Then the cook opened the door, great clouds of 
snow whirling in even on the sleepers, and the two 
went out into the blackness, facing the frost and the 
swirling particles of ice, on their errand of mercy. 

When the door, after some difficulty, had been 
closed behind them, Mr. Brown stood motionless 
in a listening attitude while one might have counted 
twenty, and then, apparently from the Seboois 
trail, came a cry for help, feeble and quavering as 
if he who had uttered it was on the verge of ex- 
haustion, perhaps death. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


261 


It must be that Jim Haley was crazy enough to 
send some one in from Seboois,” the cook cried, 
running as swiftly up the trail as the fury of the 
storm would permit, Peter following at his heels, 
striving to shield with the blanket his face from the 
icy blast. 

Within twenty yards of the camp they came upon 
the apparently lifeless form of a man, who had 
evidently ceased to struggle against the wind and 
the frost, and was now half crouching in the open, 
seemingly ignorant that aid was near at hand. 

“ Come, my son, rouse up a bit,’' Joe Brown 
said as he shook the stranger violently. This is 
no place for a nap, unless you’re minded to stay 
till the last trump sounds, and it begins to look as 
if it might be sounding now, so far as you are con- 
cerned,” he added as the sufferer gave no heed 
either to the words or the rough handling. 

I reckon he’s too far gone to do anything to- 
ward helping himself, and it’ll be God’s blessing if 
we contrive to keep him in this world. A man 
can freeze to death mighty quick on a night like this. 
Get hold of him somehow, Peter; we’ll make a 
shorter job of it by dragging the poor fellow, than 
if we tried to lug him.” 

For their own safety it was necessary they should 
make all haste in this work of rescue. Although he 
had been exposed to the blast only a few moments, 
already did it seem to Peter as if he was chilled to 


262 


BOY SCOUTS 


the bone, and the task of dragging the unconscious 
man was agreeable, since it afforded opportunity 
for violent exercise. 

Scoutmaster Masterson cannot tell even now ex- 
actly how he and the cook got the sufferer into the 
camp. All he remembers is that he struggled to the 
utmost, literally fighting his way against the wind 
as he tugged and pulled at the apparently lifeless 
body, and it seemed as if he had been exposed to 
the fury of the storm a full hour, when Joe Brown 
flung open the door of the camp. 

With the storm beating in upon them, the sleepers 
were quickly awakened, and with exclamations of 
astonishment and bewilderment Jonas and Eben 
were on the floor doing what they might toward 
dragging the sufferer inside. 

“ Don’t take him near the stove 1 ” the cook cried 
peremptorily. “ It won’t be safe to let the heat 
strike him so soon. Some of you fellows scoop up 
a bucket of snow — throw the water out if there 
isn’t an empty pail. Work lively, lads, else we’re 
like to have a dead man on our hands.” 

The Scouts were in a state of high excitement, as 
may well be imagined, while Joe Brown applied the 
heroic treatment necessary in such a case. The 
man was partially stripped of his clothing, and 
while Eben packed snow on the stranger’s face and 
hands, Jonas did the same to his feet, the cook 
moving here and there hurriedly, giving one com- 



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IN A LUMBER CAMP 263 

mand after another until several of the boys grew 
so confused as to be completely bewildered. 

During fifteen minutes Jabe Morse stood help- 
lessly near the stove, as if his one care was to keep 
his own body warm, and then when Eben shouldered 
him aside in order to put on the coffee-pot, he sud- 
denly cried as if in terror: 

“ I’m blowed if that ain’t the same man who was 
here this noon lookin’ for his bosses ! It strikes me, 
Joe Brown, that you’d better left him where he was, 
for trouble will come of this, though I won’t be here 
if there’s any show of gettin’ over the Seboois trail 
after sunrise.” 

Strange as it may seem, no one save Jabe had 
recognized the sufferer until this moment, and Peter 
staggered back against the bunk as he muttered: 

“ How does it happen that he was on the Seboois 
trail ? Do you suppose that instead of going to the 
dam, he went the other way ? ” 

I allow he loitered on the road, watching us 
for a spell, and so wasted time that was precious,” 
Joe Brown suggested after making certain the suf- 
ferer was the man who had threatened them with 
dire punishment a short time previous. “ It stands 
to reason he put out for the dam; but not knowing 
the road, got bewildered when the storm came on, 
and doubled back on his own tracks as many another 
fellow lost in the woods has done before him. 
Kind’er odd that this crowd of ‘ babies ’ should be 


264 


BOY SCOUTS 


the ones to lend him a hand when he was most 
needing it.” 

Mr. Brown did not cease work while he talked; 
but continued to aid Jonas and Eben pack the un- 
fortunate timber thief in snow until the coffee had 
been cooked, when he poured a goodly portion 
down the man’s throat, handling him as tenderly 
as a woman might have done. 

“ Here’s the fellow you’re running away from, 
Jabe,” the cook said as he laid the man’s head back 
on a pillow formed of a rolled blanket. ‘‘ Looks 
like he could raise hob with all hands of us, don’t 
he? I wonder how his mates are getting on about 
this time? ” 

“ Never mind if he ain’t very perky jest now, 
all the same I’d rather he’d staid outside till there 
was no chance of his doin’ anybody any harm,” 
Mr. Morse grumbled. ‘‘ He’ll be jest as savage as 
ever when he gets thawed out, an’ then we’ll be in 
a mix-up agin.” 

You can light out for Seboois whenever the 
notion strikes you,” and the cook spoke in an angry 
tone. I’ve run up against a good many cowards ; 
but never before met one who’d rather see a man 
freeze to death than take the chances of what he’d 
be able to do after he’d come to life! ” 


CHAPTER XX 


A PLEA FOR HELP 

If the half -frozen man had been their best friend, 
the Boy Scouts could not have been more eager to 
lend him aid. Although no more than two could 
work over him at a time, all the remainder of the 
company, with the single exception of Jabe Morse, 
stood near at hand ready to assist, and never one 
thought of his own comfort until the sufferer had 
shown decided signs of consciousness. 

Because of the danger of exposing him to too 
much heat, the fire in the stove had been allowed to 
die away, while outside it was as if the storm in- 
creased in fury each moment. Through every 
tiny crevice in the chinking of the logs the snow 
wreaths found their way, and the wind sought out 
the least protected portions of the small building, 
filling it with frost until those of the lads who had 
but partially dressed themselves were forced to 
seek shelter under the blankets. Yet not one of the 
Scouts grumbled because of the discomfort, and 
when Jabe Morse declared that he would build up 
a rousing fire rather than take the chances of being 
265 


266 


BOY SCOUTS 


frost-bitten, every lad sprang forward to prevent 
him from doing that which might prove dangerous 
to the man who but a few hours before had threat- 
ened to work them serious injury. 

It was fortunate for this particular timber thief 
that Joe Brown had had much experience in such 
cases, else he might have lost a limb, if not his life. 
As it was, however, the cook worked skillfully, and 
with as great care as if the stranger had been his 
own brother, until the eyelids which had been stiff 
with frost opened slowly, when came the faintly 
spoken words from the pinched lips: 

‘‘ Whose camp am I in ? ” 

Never mind where you are for a spell yet; but 
drink this coffee to warm you up inside,” the cook 
said in a fatherly tone as he held a mug of the 
steaming beverage to the man’s lips, at the same 
time raising his head until it was possible for him 
to drink. 

“ Where am I?” the stranger persisted, refusing 
to drink until his question had been answered. 

“ Well, since you’re so bent on getting all the lit- 
tle particulars, you’re here at Gray Ledge, under 
charge of Peter Masterson’s Boy Scouts, and here 
I’m allowing you’ll have to stay quite a spell if this 
storm keeps on as it’s humming now. Build up 
the fire, lads ; I reckon our patient can stand a little 
heat now, and to tell the truth I’m mighty near be- 
ing frost-bitten myself.” 


IN K LUMBER CAMP 


267 


While the Scouts were hurriedly obeying this 
command, for all were suffering not a little with the 
cold which was searching every corner of the camp, 
the stranger drank the coffee which Joe Brown had 
been holding to his lips, and then followed with his 
eyes every movement of those “who had saved his 
life. He needed not to be told that if he had been 
allowed to remain exposed to the fury of the storm 
many moments longer, he would never have re- 
turned to this world. 

“ Did you go back to your camp when you left 
us this noon? ’’ the cook asked after a time, during 
which the fire had been re-kindled and once more 
the stove was sending forth most grateful heat. 

No, I — I — No, I didn’t get back, and when 
the storm came on it must have been that I got 
turned around, although I did my best to keep on 
the trail.” 

“ It isn’t more than ten miles from here to the 
dam, and you started in time to get there before 
dark, unless you’re a mighty slow walker,” Joe 
Brown continued musingly, and again the man dis- 
played considerable embarrassment as he said falter- 
ingly : 

‘‘ I didn’t start — I hung ’round on the trail quite 
a spell before strikin’ out. It was nearly dark 
when I — when I set off.” 

“ Most likely you loafed around here looking 
for a chance to rough us up a bit? ” the cook sug- 


268 


BOY SCOUTS 


gested, and the man’s pale cheeks reddened ever so 
slightly as Jabe Morse cried triumphantly: 

‘‘ I knowed it! I knowed it! You fellows were 
cocksure he’d gone back to the dam, an’ poked fun 
at me ’cause I was afraid he was near by cookin’ up 
some plan to get the best of us ! ” 

Hold your tongue, or else go into the lean-to 
with the horses, although I’m not sure that they 
wouldn’t be ashamed of such company.” 

“ He ain’t to blame for thinkin’ that I’d — ” 
the man began in a feeble tone; but the cook 
checked him promptly by saying in a tone of com- 
mand : 

‘‘ You’re not in condition to do overly much 
talking just now, so keep your tongue quiet. If 
you didn’t get back to the dam you’re needing 
something stronger than coffee. Eben, put the fry- 
ing pan on the stove, and cut some bacon. We 
can’t have folks starving to death while we’ve got 
plenty and to spare.” 

“Now ain’t that a fool trick?” Jabe whispered 
to Jerry Simpson. “ Here’s Joe Brown coddlin’ 
up the timber thief as if he was our one best friend, 
an’ by the time he’s filled him chock-full with our 
grub he’ll be ready to cut our throats.” 

“ It’ll be quite a while before he’s in condition 
to do very much mischief,” the leader of the 
Beavers replied laughingly, “ and even when he 
does set about it. I’m thinking all hands of us can 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 269 

prevent one man from going very far toward kill- 
ing this whole crowd.” 

There was no longer anything Peter could do to 
aid the stranger who had so narrowly escaped death, 
for Joe Brown had covered him with three or four 
blankets as he advised him to “ sleep a bit.” The 
scoutmaster, for the first time since the cry for help 
had been heard, began to minister to his own com- 
fort by putting on all his clothing again and hud- 
dling behind the stove, for his teeth were chatter- 
ing with the cold. It was while he was thus striving 
to restore warmth to his own body after taking the 
chances of being frost-bitten while ministering to 
the wants of another, that Jonas whispered: 

It looks as if to-morrow would be an idle day 
for us. The boys won’t be willing to work very 
hard after sitting up all night.” 

Never mind that part of it, Jonas,” was the 
cheery reply. “ It may be that the storm won’t 
clear away in time for us to do very much toward 
the contract work, and even if it does, I reckon we 
can afford to lie still one day for the sake of 
what’s been done.” 

I ain’t kicking any,” the adjutant said laugh- 
ingly ; “ but I can’t help thinking that it’s funny this 
man should be able to interfere with the work, and 
we be perfectly willing for him to do it. How did 
you and Mr. Brown know he was outside ? ” 

For the first time since the cry for help had been 


270 


BOY SCOUTS 


heard did Peter explain that he it was who had a 
warning that any one in the vicinity of the camp 
was in danger of death, and by the time he had 
finished the story of dragging the unconscious man 
to the door of the building, the cook had ready 
smoking hot food for his patient. 

‘‘ You’re going to eat this to the very last scrap,” 
he said as he seated himself on the floor by the side 
of the invalid. “ It would have been better if you’d 
scooped in a little sleep while I worked over the 
stove, for I’m allowing that would bring you 
around quicker ’n anything else.” 

Then Joe Brown fed the stranger as he would 
have fed a child, and when the food had been eaten 
and washed down with another mug of coffee, he 
said as he pulled the blankets over his enemy: 

Now you’ll sure go to sleep. I reckon you’ll 
be full as comfortable here on the floor as if you 
tried to sleep in one bunk with a crew of restless 
boys, for they do kick around amazingly sometimes 
when their stomachs are too full.” 

During two or three minutes the man remained 
silent and motionless as if striving to do as he had 
been commanded, and then he asked suddenly : 

‘‘ What about those at the dam ? ” 

‘‘We won’t bother our heads about ’em; I 
reckon they’ve got sense enough to stay under 
cover. They’ll have their hands full trying to keep 
that camp anyways warm, though,” he added 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


271 

laughingly. “ It wasn’t built for folks to live in 
this weather.” 

“ They have run short of grub, an’ how will they 
find their way out? ” the man asked after a pause. 
“ They were countin’ on my bringin’ back somethin’ 
to eat.” 

‘‘ Well, they won’t be the first in these sections 
who’ve been hungry when winter came on so sud- 
den as this has,” was the careless reply. There’s 
one thing certain, they’ll have to chop wood mighty 
lively to keep from freezing to death, and that’ll 
prevent ’em from thinking overly much about their 
stomachs.” 

Again the man remained silent during a brief 
interval, during which time Jabe Morse glared at 
him as if expecting each instant he would begin his 
work of ‘‘ throat cutting,” and then he asked almost 
petulantly : 

“ But how will they get out now that the trail 
is covered with snow? It isn’t any too plain at 
the best, as I know full well, an’ even now they 
may be wanderin’ around bewildered, the same as 
I did.” 

“ Don’t worry about their doing any such fool 
trick in the night. You can set it down as a fact 
that they’re hugging the camp mighty snug, that 
is, if they’ve got wood enough to keep a fire going.” 

But in the mornin’ — How am I to get 
back ? ” 


272 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ Better strike out for Seboois/’ Joe Brown said 
after a moment’s thought. “ A man will need snow- 
shoes in the morning if he counts on tramping 
very far, and you couldn’t get over the trail to the 
dam in a week, if this storm keeps on howling as 
it does now. Jabe is bent on going to the settle- 
ment as soon as daylight, and you can ride on his 
wagon, for he’ll be travelin’ light.” 

Who said I was goin’ to Seboois in the morn- 
in’ ? ” Mr. Morse asked savagely. 

“ That was what you ( unted on at supper time,” 
and the cook spoke a^ if surprised by the ques- 
tion. 

“ I may have changed my mind since then, an’ 
even if I do pull out I’m not such a fool as you 
are, to cuddle them who’ve sworn to cut my throat. 
When I go to Seboois, I’ll go alone.” 

‘‘ Can’t you understand that I couldn’t go to the 
settlement?” the man asked childishly, as if the 
tears were very near his eyelids. Ain’t the owner 
of these sections waitin’ there to chuck me into 
jail?” 

‘‘ I declare I’d forgot all about that part of it,” 
the cook said in perplexity, and added in a more 
cheery tone, I tell you what it is, pardner. I’d 
rather a heap sight be in Penobscot jail than wan- 
dering ’twixt here and the dam without snow- 
shoes, with the weather as cold as it’s likely to be 
by morning.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


273 


But Pve got to make a try for it ! The other 
fellows will wait for me till they’ve eaten every- 
thin’ in the camp, an’ even then it’ll be as hard for 
them to get out as for me to go in.” 

‘‘ It does kind’er seem as if you’d got yourselves 
into a hobble,” and Mr. Brown rubbed his chin 
thoughtfully. It’s dead sure your folks can’t 
stay at the dam very long without grub, an’ I’m 
allowing you’d run against considerable trouble if 
you showed your noses at Seboois, for Richard 
Dobson isn’t any tame kitten when he gets his 
dander up.” 

With this not very cheering remark the conver- 
sation was brought to an end for the time being. 
The invalid fell asleep, or appeared to have done 
so, and one by one the Scouts crept into the bunk, 
well content to nestle beneath the heavy blankets 
even though the stove, well supplied with fuel, was 
glowing red. Joe Brown hung the lanterns where 
the rays of light would not fall upon the visitor’s 
face and possibly disturb his slumbers, while those 
Scouts who still discussed the situation among 
themselves, did so in whispers lest there be too 
much noise while the invalid was seemingly resting 
comfortably. Jabe Morse evidently overcame the 
fear that his throat would be cut, and gave him- 
self up to sleep, while the others followed his exam- 
ple until none were left awake save the cook and 
the scoutmaster. 


274 


BOY SCOUTS 


When perhaps half an hour had passed in silence, 
Joe Brown said in a cautious whisper as he and 
Peter sat side by side behind the stove, where they 
were sheltered from the wind which found its way 
through the crevices of the door: 

I declare for it, Peter, Pm quite a bit troubled 
about that fellow,” and he motioned with his 
thumb toward where the stranger lay apparently 
as well wrapped in slumber as he was in blankets. 
‘‘ He’s sure in a tight place, and his partners are 
worse off. They can’t go to Seboois without tak- 
ing big chances of being clapped in jail, for even 
if Richard Dobson isn’t there, Jim Haley’s on the 
lookout for ’em. As to tramping from the dam 
to Stillwater while the snow is likely to be so deep, 
that’s way out of the question. They’d go astray 
within a mile of the camp, and we wouldn’t be there 
to thaw ’em out when they got froze, as we’ve done 
with this one.” 

Peter remained silent for the very good reason 
that he had no suggestion to offer, and after a 
while, during which Mr. Brown puffed vigorously 
at his pipe, the cook spoke again, this time less 
guardedly : 

They haven’t come out very well in the job 
of stealing Dobson’s timber, and I wouldn’t make 
many bets that the two over yonder get away alive. 
It isn’t a joke to be twenty miles from a settle- 
ment, with no grub, no snow-shoes, and the ther- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


275 


mometer dropping way below zero, even to a fel- 
low who knows this country as he does his own 
home; but for a couple of strangers the outlook 
is mighty bad.” 

‘‘ That’s what’s keepin’ me from sleepin’,” the 
invalid suddenly cried as he raised himself on his 
elbow. I heard what you said, cook, an’ it’s no 
more than has been in my own mind since I 
got my wits here in this camp. It looks as if 
they were bound to go under, an’ that I’d find 
lodgin’s in jail, where perhaps I belong by rights. 
Of course you fellows count on sendin’ me to 
Seboois ? ” 

Mr. Brown looked quest ioningly at Peter an in- 
stant, and then replied emphatically as he rose to 
his feet and went to the invalid’s side : 

“Of course we don’t count on doing anything 
of the kind. I’m free to admit you’re right in say- 
ing that that’s where you belong, for you’ve cut 
quite a big swath in this section, with the will to 
do more if you’d had the chance. But these ’ere 
Boy Scouts, if I know ’em rightly, ain’t the kind 
who hanker after paying off old scores. They’ve 
done what they could to block your game, and 
that’s the end of it so far as we here at Gray Ledge 
are concerned.” 

Peter believed the man was about to make a 
hasty reply, for he straightened up a trifle more, 
apd appeared as if struggling to speak. Instead 


276 


BOY SCOUTS 


of doing so, however, he fell back on the blankets, 
and the cook was on the point of returning to his 
snug seat behind the stove, when the stranger said 
half to himself: 

If those fellows at the dam don’t freeze to 
death because of goin’ astray in try in’ to find the 
way out, they stand a good chance of starvin’. I 
don’t reckon you lads would be willin’ to lend me 
a pair of snow-shoes ? ” 

One pair wouldn’t do any good, even if you 
were able to start for the dam to-morrow morn- 
ing, which is out of the question as a matter of 
course,” and Peter looked at Joe Brown to con- 
firm the statement, whereupon the cook added de- 
cidedly : 

“ You’ll be tied here two or three days at the 
very least.” 

“ And in order to help your mates you’d need a 
pair of snow-shoes for each man,” Peter continued 
as if he had not been interrupted. ‘‘We haven’t 
a spare pair in camp, and it would be necessary for 
our Scouts to remain idle during such time as you 
might want to use the shoes, if we should lend you 
any.” 

“We haven’t got overly much cash with us; but 
I’d agree that we’d give up every cent in our pos- 
session, with the agreement to raise as much more 
as you might ask, if some of you lads would try 
to help those poor chaps out. I know we’ve used 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


277 

you boys mighty mean, and, as the cook says, 
would have done worse if we could. Pm ashamed 
of my part. When a man stands facin’ death 
things look different from what they do at other 
times, an’ I’ve got the nerve to beg, on my knees 
if it’ll do any good, for you to give ’em a hand in 
spite of all that’s been done. Although you count 
us enemies, an’ with good cause, you wouldn’t feel 
very comfortable at night if you knew it might 
have been possible to save two men from dyin’. 
Take ’em straight over to Seboois where they can 
be jailed, if so be you please, an’ I’ll guarantee 
they’ll go with you meek as lambs; but don’t leave 
the poor fellows to freeze or starve ! ” 

The invalid was pleading piteously, with tears 
rolling down his cheeks, which must have been un- 
accustomed to such moisture, and Scoutmaster 
Masterson was quite as deeply moved as was the 
speaker. Joe Brown remained silent, gazing mood- 
ily at the floor, and after what seemed like a long 
pause Peter said quietly: 

‘‘ I’ll go to the dam to-morrow with two pairs of 
snow-shoes. The fellows here may lie idle till I 
get back. It isn’t in my mind to take the men 
where they can be put in jail, but simply help them 
out of the hole they’re in.” 

“ It would be as much as your life was worth 
to make the venture before this storm cleared 
away, Peter boy, so don’t promise cocksure that 


278 BOY SCOUTS 

you’ll go in the morning,” the cook said in a tremu- 
lous voice. 

“ According to what this man says, somebody 
must go at once, or they may try to tramp over to 
Stillwater, which would be absolutely impossible.” 

“ But think of the danger to yourself, lad,” Mr. 
Brown pleaded. It’ll come hard to stay here 
knowing the men may be there suffering for some- 
thing to eat; but it’s better than that you should 
knock under trying to get to the dam.” 

I can make it all right in the daytime ” 

“ But not when it’s snowing hard, like it is now.” 

“ I blazed the trail carefully last summer, and 
it should be possible for me to keep to the track. 
I’ll go in the morning,” the lad repeated, and the 
cook no longer protested, but remained silent and 
motionless, gazing at the floor, while the invalid, 
raising himself once more on his elbow, said with 
the deepest feeling: 

‘‘ I won’t try to tell you what I think, my boy ; 
but if I live long enough I’ll square things with 
you for the promise, even though you don’t con- 
trive to get to their camp.” 


CHAPTER XXI 


A DANGEROUS VENTURE 

Scoutmaster Masterson had no reply to make 
to this remark, which was at the same time a prom- 
ise and a display of' gratitude. He sat listening 
to the howling of the wind, picturing to himself 
the condition in -which the trail to the dam would 
be by morning, and mentally shivering as he real- 
ized yet more fully than when he had pledged his 
word, the suffering which must necessarily be his 
during the long tramp, however favorable the 
weather conditions might be, 

Joe Brown remained as motionless and silent as 
a statue, crouched behind the stove beyond reach 
of the angry gusts of wind which came through 
the door, and Peter began to believe that the cook 
was angry with him because of his agreement to 
do what he might toward aiding the timber 
thieves who had already worked so much mischief 
to the Boy Scouts. 

It was as if the invalid’s mind had been entirely 
relieved of its burden of anxiety, for within three 
minutes from the time the scoutmaster had prom- 

279 


28 o 


BOY SCOUTS 


ised to set out for the dam, he was sleeping peace- 
fully. Nearly half an hour passed before Joe 
Brown gave any signs of consciousness, and then 
he rose slowly, re-filled the stove with wood, and, 
turning to Peter, said in a low tone : 

Pm allowing, lad, that you’d best turn in. If 
you’re set on what I call a mighty dangerous ven- 
ture, it stands you in hand to get all the rest pos- 
sible ’twixt now and sunrise.” 

I can’t help going, Mr. Brown,” Peter replied 
in an apologetic tone. “ You know very well that 
we couldn’t stay quietly here while those men were 
suffering, — perhaps dying, and if you were the 
only person here who could do the job. I’m certain 
you’d strike the trail as soon as it was light enough 
to see your way.” 

The cook motioned toward the bunk, where he 
had rearranged the blankets, as token that the lad 
should lie down, and Scoutmaster Masterson meekly 
obeyed the gesture. It is not to be supposed, 
however, that the lad’s mind was free from care. 
He knew only too well to what he had pledged him- 
self. His thoughts went back in the past to that 
day when Daniel Stubbs, said to be the best woods- 
man in Penobscot, had unwittingly wandered from 
the Seboois trail after a heavy fall of snow, and 
been found frozen to death shortly afterward. 
The trail to the dam was, as compared with that 
on which Mr. Stubbs had met death, a blind one. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 281 

and Peter understood that he would need to call 
into play all his knowledge of woodcraft if he suc- 
ceeded in keeping on it during the tramp of ten 
miles, even though the storm had cleared away 
before he started. 

Despite these discomfiting thoughts he fell 
asleep very shortly after stretching himself out on 
the bunk, and was yet in the land of dreams when 
Jonas, awakened by a sensation of extreme cold, 
crept out from amid the blankets to re-build the 
fire. Careful though he was to move softly, Joe 
Brown awakened, and sliding down from the 
shelf-like bed peered out of the window; but it was 
so thickly covered with frost that he failed to see 
through the glass. That a new day had come was 
evident from the gray light in camp, and the cook 
muttered to himself as he cautiously unbarred the 
door: 

I wonder what kind of a day Peter is going to 
have ? ’’ 

A cloud of snow was driven through the half- 
opened door, the icy wind searching in an instant 
every portion of the building, and the cook made 
haste to shut out the furious blast, shivering with 
the cold as he did so. 

“What do you mean by that?’' Jonas whis- 
pered. “ Won’t Peter have the same kind of a 
day that’s coming to all of us ? ” 

“ The lad has promised to go to the dam, no mat- 


282 


BOY SCOUTS 


ter what the weather may be, and he’s the kind of 
a fellow who’ll think he must keep his word how- 
ever many are the chances against him.” 

“ Promised to go to the dam! ” Jonas repeated. 
“ What does he count on doing there? ” 

“ The man we brought in last night told him that 
the other two had neither grub nor snow-shoes, 
consequently were bound to get it mighty tough 
’twixt now and the time it would be possible to 
strike the trail. Peter promised to set off this 
morning, counting, I suppose, on bringing to Gray 
Ledge the men who have roughed into us so hard.” 

Peter isn’t so crazy that he’d risk his life try- 
ing to help men who did all they could to work us 
harm 1 ” 

That’s what he allows to do, and I can’t see 
that there’s any let-up to the storm. It’ll be a ter- 
rible job.” 

“ He sha’n’t do it I ” Jonas cried emphatically, and 
speaking so loudly that the scoutmaster was 
awakened. 

Peter came down from the bunk to make an 
attempt at peering through the frost-laden window, 
even as Mr. Brown had done, and the cook said 
gently : 

“ It’s about the same as when we went out last 
night, lad — a little worse if anything. You can’t 
make the dam this day, no matter what kind of a 
plight the timber thieves are in.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


283 


Now it was that the stranger awakened, and he 
raised his head to gaze eagerly into Peter’s face, 
apparently waiting with bated breath to hear the 
reply. 

“ There’s no ‘ can’t ’ about it, Mr. Brown. I’ve 
got to go! What kind of a scoutmaster would I 
be if I staid snug here in camp when ten miles away 
two men may be freezing or starving to death ? ” 

‘‘ They can pull through all right one day 
longer,” Jonas cried. ‘‘ It won’t be a case of freez- 
ing while they’ve got strength enough to chop 
wood, and the fellow who strikes the trail while 
the snow blows as it does now, stands much more 
chance of knocking under.” 

‘‘ I’ve got to go,” Peter cried dully. “ In the 
first place it’s the duty of a Boy Scout to help those 
who are in danger, and then again, I have prom- 
ised.” 

By this time Jabe Morse was awake, and re- 
gardless of everything else he insisted on learning 
the subject of the heated conversation, whereupon 
Jonas said in an angry tone: 

“ Peter is going to try to get to the dam this 
morning to help the two who are there without 
anything to eat.” 

What kind of a fool is he to do anythin’ of the 
kind for men who would cut our throats the first 
chance they got? Has he gone crazy?” 

It looks almost like it,” Jonas replied mourn- 


284 


BOY SCOUTS 


fully, and Scoutmaster Masterson, not inclined to 
listen to the comments of his companions, said 
curtly to the cook : 

“ Give me a piece of bacon, some bread and 
coffee, enough for one full meal for three people. 
Tie the stuff in two packages so I can carry them 
in my pockets. Til start the breakfast while you’re 
doing that, for I want to get away as soon as pos- 
sible.” 

“ You won’t make the dam much before night, 
even if you get there finally, and it’ll be a case of 
staying till to-morrow morning, so you’ll be need- 
ing quite a lot of grub.” 

“ Then make a bundle that can be tied to my 
back, for I’ll need the use of both hands while on 
the trail.” 

‘‘You’ll be wanting a dozen pair of hands, with 
arms and legs to match, before you pull through,” 
Joe Brown said as if in anger, before he set about 
obeying the scoutmaster’s commands, having come 
to understand that any attempt to dissuade the lad 
from his purpose would be useless. 

Mr. Morse became highly excited, declaring that 
he would prevent the scoutmaster, or any other 
lad, for the matter of that, from leaving the camp 
while the storm was raging, even though it became 
necessary to use force, and as he moved to and fro 
swiftly in the narrow quarters, too much wrought 
up to remain in one place, the man on the floor al- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


285 


ternately gazed at him and Master Masterson, 
the fear that Peter might be persuaded to re- 
main at Gray Ledge being written plainly on his 
face. 

‘‘ So it’s you we can thank for Peter’s death ! ” 
the teamster cried, turning upon the invalid as if 
only at that moment had he learned of the latter’s 
presence. “ You an’ those precious mates of yours 
have done all you could to kill us, an’ now count 
on lettin’ a decent boy freeze to death jest because 
a couple of timber thieves sneaked into the camp 
at the dam, reckonin’ to smash us all up at the first 
chance! If Daniel Stubbs couldn’t keep to the Se- 
boois trail in a storm that wasn’t as bad as this, 
what do you allow will become of the lad who starts 
for the dam ? ” 

The invalid shrank back amid the blankets as if 
fearing Jabe Morse was about to strike him,; but 
he spoke never a word, and the scoutmaster cried 
impatiently : 

“ You’re only making matters worse by raving 
in that fashion, Mr. Morse. Look after your 
horses, for I reckon it’ll be necessary to dig away 
quite a lot of snow before you can get into the 
lean-to, and you’ll need all the time between now 
and breakfast’s ready, to do the job.” 

Mr. Morse stood irresolutely a moment, bending 
over the invalid in a threatening attitude, and then 
he slowly obeyed the scoutmaster’s command, let- 


286 


BOY SCOUTS 


ting in such a deluge of snow when he went out of 
the door that every fellow in camp was awakened 
by the icy particles. 

After his first outbreak against Peter’s decision 
to go to the dam Adjutant Hanson busied himself 
with overhauling his heaviest clothing, and bring- 
ing out from their hiding-place a new pair of moc- 
casins, which caused the cook to ask with mild curi- 
osity : 

Are you going out to help Jabe ? I reckon he’ll 
need a hand before he makes path enough to lead 
the horses to water.” 

I’m going with Peter,” Jonas replied in a low 
tone, and Mr. Brown literally screamed : 

“ With Peter? Do you think that two can keep 
the trail better than one ? ” 

“ I sure do. When the scoutmaster tackles a job 
such as Peter has undertaken, it’s the duty of the 
adjutant to share the danger.” 

Instantly Peter heard these words he was afire 
with excitement much resembling anger, declaring 
again and again that no other person should be per- 
mitted to leave the camp, save it might be on some 
duty such as preparing fuel, and even then it must 
be with the understanding that he was not to ven- 
ture twenty yards from the building. While the 
scoutmaster was talking Jonas calmly continued to 
make his preparations for the long tramp, and 
when. Peter ceased issuing commands, being forced 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 287 

to do so through sheer lack of breath, the adjutant 
said placidly : 

All the same I’m going with you, even though 
I trail a good bit behind. Two can do better than 
one on a day like this, and it’s as much the duty of 
the adjutant to help those who may be in distress, 
as it is the scoutmaster’s.” 

The majority of the Scouts stood in open- 
mouthed astonishment on learning what was con- 
templated, yet none save Jerry Simpson ventured 
any criticism. He was loud in disapproval of the 
venture, finally declaring flatly that neither the 
scoutmaster nor the adjutant was warranted in 
abandoning the patrols at such a time. 

“If I can’t make Jonas stay where he belongs, 
you will be in charge here while we are away,” and 
Peter seated himself at the table, the adjutant fol- 
lowing his example, when Joe Brown silently mo- 
tioned that the meal was ready for those who were 
to venture out of doors. 

While the lads were eating, and both took good 
care to fortify the “ inner man ” with plenty of 
nourishing food, the cook made into two packages 
as much in the way of provisions as he believed 
might be needed for the Scouts as well as the tim- 
ber thieves during twenty- four hours, and then, 
aided by Eben, strapped the bundles carefully to 
the backs of the lads even as they sat at table, tak- 
ing extraordinary care lest the fastenings should 


288 BOY SCOUTS 

chafe their shoulders, or in any way impede their 
movements. 

What do you count on doing with those pre- 
cious pirates if so be you get where they are? ” he 
asked when Scoutmaster Masterson rose from the 
table and took up his cap and mittens. 

“ That’s exactly what is puzzling me, Mr. 
Brown,” Peter replied in perplexity. “ It doesn’t 
stand to reason that they can make their way to 
Stillwater for some days to come, and if we bring 
them here there’s a good chance Mr. Dobson, 
learning of their whereabouts, will have them ar- 
rested.” 

‘‘I should hope he would!” Jabe Morse cried, 
he having entered just in time to hear the scout- 
master’s reply. If you’re crazy enough to bring 
a couple of murderers to this camp after all they 
have done to knock us out of time, don’t expect me 
to stay here. I’ll strike the Seboois trail if the 
snow is six feet deep, rather than run the chance 
of havin’ my throat cut a dozen times over while 
I’m asleep 1 ” 

“If the men are willing to come here you’ll have 
to go, Mr. Morse, for they surely can’t stay in the 
camp at the dam in this kind of weather,” Peter 
said, and the invalid on the floor added: 

“ There’s no need for any of you boys to be 
afraid of what my partners may do in the way of 
makin’ trouble, if they’re allowed to come here. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


289 


I’m willin’ to admit that we counted on gettin’ 
away with some of Dobson’s timber; but that’s no 
sign we haven’ any idea of gratitude.” 

Mr. Morse is always more frightened than 
hurt,” Peter said laughingly. “ He has threatened 
so often to go to Seboois, leaving us in the lurch, 
that we no longer give any heed to such talk. I 
had much rather you staid here to look after the 
camp,” he added, turning toward the adjutant; 
** but if you’re bent on going when there’s no real 
need of it, the sooner we leave the better, for the 
day is growing older every minute, and we may 
need all the daylight that’s to be had.” 

It’s a good thing that Jonas has spunk enough 
to insist on going with you,” Joe Brown said de- 
cidedly. There is less chance two can go astray, 
as I know from mighty hard experience. Don’t try 
to move too fast. Be sure of the course even 
though you may be forced to spend half an hour 
or more hitting it. If you fail to come upon the 
blaze, go straight back to where you saw the last 
one, and start over again. It’s a case of greater 
caution than you ever exercised before, if we’re to 
see you once more in this world.” 

The cook spoke in an earnest, solemn tone which 
impressed every occupant of the camp, and as re- 
ply Peter clasped him by the hand, after which each 
of the Scouts in turn insisted on this form of a 
farewell, until those who were to make the venture 


290 


BOY SCOUTS 


were pained rather than pleased, for it seemed 
much like a final good-by. 

In addition to the snow-shoes which Joe Brown 
and Eben fastened on their feet before the boys 
left the camp, each had an extra pair strapped to 
his back, and therefore it was that the Scouts who 
remained behind were plentifully covered with 
snow while the scoutmaster and the adjutant made 
their way out into the storm. 

There was little need Joe Brown should have 
cautioned them against carelessness. Immediately 
they were in the open exposed to the full fury of 
the gale, both the lads realized that to keep the trail 
while the snow was blowing in such volume that one 
could hardly see ten paces in advance, would re- 
quire every effort and constant watchfulness. The 
wind drove the flakes of frost sharply against such 
portions of their faces as were exposed, each tiny 
particle stinging like a hot needle, and it was ab- 
solutely necessary to shade their eyes with their 
mittens in order to withstand the pain while gazing 
ahead for ever so short a distance. 

As nearly as could be judged, the snow had al- 
ready fallen to the depth of twelve inches or more, 
but the difficulties of traveling were greatly in- 
creased by the drifts which had been piled up under 
the lee of every bush and log. This covering of 
white was so dry that the snow-shoes sank into it 
an inch at least, and thus the lads had upon their 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


291 


feet before having advanced many yards on the 
long journey, what finally became like a heavy load. 

Here's the first blaze," Peter said as he halted 
when they were fifty yards from the camp and 
turned his back against the fierce wind, otherwise 
the words would have been literally blown from 
his mouth. ‘‘ The next one is on that big pine at 
the top of the rise. I ought to be able to keep to 
this trail with my eyes shut, and perhaps I could do 
it better that way, for with the snow covering 
everything as it does, the road doesn’t look fa- 
miliar." 

‘‘ Remember what Mr. Brown said," and Jonas 
stood very near his comrade in order to make him- 
self heard without being forced to scream. “We 
must make certain of not losing track of the blaze, 
else we’ll be in hard sledding. I thought I knew 
something about traveling through the woods in 
the winter; but it was a mistake. This job is going 
to be the toughest either of us ever tackled, Peter." 

“ It isn’t too late for you to turn back, and I’ll 
be mightily well pleased if you do, because it seems 
reckless for both of us to make the venture when 
one should be able to do it as well alone." 

“If it’s your duty to rescue our enemies, Peter, 
I’m bound to toddle right along by your side, al- 
though it seems like a funny trick to be going 
through what’s before us, in order to help men 
who’ve done us so much harm." 


292 


BOY SCOUTS 


That was what came into my mind last night 
when the fellow at the camp was much the same 
as begging us to do something; but after a time 
I began to understand that if those men at the dam 
were in danger of freezing or starving, we had no 
right to remember what they had done. This kind 
of a job seems more like what real Boy Scouts 
should tackle, for tie-cutting is selfish work, when 
you come to consider that we are doing it simply 
for the sake of earning money.’^ 

I’m willing to agree that there’s nothing sel- 
fish in this business,” Jonas said ruefully as he 
rubbed his aching nose. ‘‘ Now we’ll strike for the 
next blaze, and it won’t be a bad idea if we stop 
often to get our breath, for by so doing we’ll be 
able to hold out the longer.” 

The Scouts were fully ten minutes traversing a 
distance which, during the summer, could have been 
covered in one-fifth of that time, and once more 
they halted to shield their faces from the stinging 
blast. 

‘‘ Every step we take is one the less,” Scout- 
master Masterson said cheerily as he leaned against 
the big pine. That’s the way I used to figure it 
last summer when I’d grown leg- weary. We 
needn’t struggle to get ahead so very fast, for 
we’ve all day in which to turn the trick, although 
I’m not certain we won’t need every minute. Of 
course we shall stay at the dam to-night.” 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


293 


There’s no question about that — if we succeed 
in getting there,” Jonas said grimly, and then Peter 
led the way once more through bushes heavily 
laden with snow that hampered their every move- 
ment, and again bending low in order to make 
headway against the fierce wind. 


CHAPTER XXII 


THE END OF THE STRUGGLE 

To tell all the details of that battle against the 
elements would require more space than should 
ordinarily be given to an entire story. Each mo- 
ment was filled with struggles to bear up under the 
shrieking wind and piercing frost. More than 
once the lads failed in finding the blaze which would 
tell that they were proceeding on a direct course, 
and precious time was spent hunting for it. 

Once when he was worn nearly to exhaustion, 
and suffering bitterly with the cold, Jonas pro- 
posed that they push ahead at their best pace, giv- 
ing no heed to the markings of the trail, urging 
that if they spent so much time searching for each 
blaze, night would be upon them before they could 
arrive at the dam, in which case the death of both 
would be well-nigh certain. 

‘‘We can’t take the chances of wandering from 
the trail,” the scoutmaster said sharply. “To do 
so would be fatal, as you know, and it must have 
been by pushing on blindly, without spending time 
to make certain of the course, that Mr. Stubbs went 
294 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


295 


to his death. Besides, we promised Mr. Brown 
that we would find each blaze before going ahead.” 

Therefore it was that a full third of the time 
spent in that terrific battle was employed in retrac- 
ing their steps to find the markings which often- 
times were nearly hidden by the snow, and thus the 
journey of ten miles in a direct line was nearly 
doubled. 

There were moments, when they passed through 
a clearing where the storm had full sweep, that it 
was absolutely impossible to make headway against 
the snow-laden blast, and the Scouts would be 
forced to fight simply to retain their footing, wait- 
ing for a lull in the wind before pressing onward 
once more. 

Not for any length of time did the gale lessen 
in fury. When the wind came in gusts, and its force 
was slackened momentarily, it seemed as if the 
snow fell in greater volume, the dancing flakes daz- 
zling one’s eyes to the verge of bewilderment. The 
boys’ heads ached as if pressed by a steel clamp, 
and in addition to the bitter stinging of the frost 
particles was the almost overwhelming desire to 
halt for a few seconds. 

Once, in fact, Jonas did insist on halting behind 
the poor shelter of a huge tree, declaring that it 
was impossible for him to continue on until after 
having rested his limbs and his eyes. Then it was 
that Scoutmaster Masterson, after warning his com- 


BOY SCOUTS 


296 

rade of the consequences if they allowed them- 
selves to remain in one place longer than was ab- 
solutely necessary to regain the breath which it 
seemed was literally blown from their lungs, threat- 
ened the direst punishment if the adjutant gave 
way to the desire for repose even in a bed of 
snow. 

“ It’s a case of buckling right to it every min- 
ute, with never a thought of yourself,” he shouted 
in Jonas’s ear as he shook the lad violently. If 
you dare to lie down, no matter how good a shelter 
we find. I’ll flog you till you’re worn to shreds ! ” 

Most likely the adjutant knew full well way down 
in his heart that this threat was made only in order 
to force him toward the goal — that Peter Masterson 
would never lay hands on him in anger ; but he was 
so nearly bewildered by the swiftly falling frost 
flakes and the shrieking of the wind, that it was 
almost as if he feared violence from the lad who 
would have sacrificed his own life to save that of 
his comrade. 

How the time passed the boys never really knew. 
They were only conscious of the ceaseless struggle 
against the elements; of the piercing cold and the 
rapidly increasing weakness of body and will, until 
Peter suddenly became aware that the day was 
drawing to a close. 

It must be nearly sunset ! ” he cried, seizing 
Jonas by the arm to force him to a more rapid 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


297 


pace. Can you see any land-marks that you re- 
member? It doesn’t seem as if I’d ever been over 
this trail; everything looks strange. How far are 
we from the dam? ” 

“ So far that we’ll never reach it,” was the de- 
spairing reply. There’s no sense in punishing our- 
selves for nothing. We may as well stop here and 
give up beaten.” 

‘‘ I’ll do worse than kill you, if you dare even to 
think of such a thing! What kind of a Boy Scout 
are you, to give in because it is hard to keep on? 
Cheer up, Jonas dear! We’ll gain the dam all 
right, and before dark I promise that you shall be 
in front of a blazing fire toasting your shins, for of 
course those fellows have contrived to cut what 
fuel may be needed.” 

Thus it was that Scoutmaster Masterson urged 
his comrade on, alternately coaxing and threaten- 
ing, sometimes actually pushing him forward, and 
again walking arm in arm when the width of the 
trail would permit ; but not once did the brave Peter 
fail to note each blaze, going back now and then 
though every step was painful, to make certain 
he was holding the course. 

The small packs on their backs seemingly grew 
heavier and heavier until they were really weighted 
down. The ends of the spare snow-shoes, catching 
here and there on the bushes, pulled them roughly 
back; oftentimes one or the other fell headlong; but 


BOY SCOUTS 


298 

yet on they toiled, thanks to the unconquerable 
spirit of the scoutmaster. 

When twilight came even Peter began to despair. 
When it was no longer possible to see the blaze he 
knew only too well that they would go astray, and 
then death must quickly follow. He set his teeth 
firmly as on that night when he was carrying a 
wounded comrade through the underbrush in the 
hope of retrieving his own good name, and, clutch- 
ing Jonas as tightly by the arm as his frozen mit- 
tens would permit, he pushed doggedly forward un- 
til the moment came when it was no longer possible 
to make out the markings on the trees. 

It was just at that instant when it seemed even 
to Peter that fate was against them — that they must 
meet death there in the wilderness, having failed 
in their errand of mercy, that Jonas, reviving some- 
what from the stupor into which he had fallen many 
moments before, shouted wildly as he plunged for- 
ward, falling upon his face as the snow-shoes on 
his back were caught and held by the twigs : 

It’s a light, Peter ! It’s a light, and must be in 
the camp at the dam ! ” 

The scoutmaster waited until he had helped his 
comrade to rise, and then he searched with his eyes 
through that veil of falling snow until he saw, seem- 
ingly far away in the distance, a faint glow, telling 
that the long, terrible struggle was nearly at an 
end. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


299 


Staggering from side to side; falling more than 
once through sheer exhaustion, but scrambling 
feebly to their feet, the two lads worked their way 
up the hill on which was situated the camp they had 
been eager to gain. Whether sixty or only ten min- 
utes were spent in the ascent Peter had no idea. 
He was only conscious that he crawled on his hands 
and knees to the platform of the building, dragging 
Jonas behind him, and then with one last effort 
threw himself against the door. 

During a certain short time Scoutmaster Master- 
son was unable to realize what was going on around 
him, and then he understood that he was lying in 
front of a glowing stove; that the snow-shoes and 
the pack had been taken from his back, his cap and 
mittens were removed, and, what seemed of greater 
importance than his own safety, was the fact that 
the adjutant lay beside him. Never before had he 
experienced anything more grateful than the 
warmth from the glowing red stove and the relief 
from the dancing flakes of snow. He could think 
only of the rest and comfort which had suddenly 
come to him, until he heard faintly, as if from a 
distance, the question : 

‘‘Where did you boys come from?’^ 

This was repeated again and again until the 
scoutmaster finally came to understand that he was 
expected to answer it, and he said, speaking with 
difficulty because of his swollen lips: 


300 


BOY SCOUTS 


We’re from Gray Ledge.” 

“ How does it happen that you are out in a storm 
like this ? ” 

'‘We came to help you. Your partner who was 
hunting for his horses nearly froze to death last 
night. We found him; but he’s in such shape that 
he can’t do much in the way of work for some time 
to come. He wanted us to get here because he was 
afraid you would starve, or might try to make your 
way to Stillwater.” 

Although Peter could not yet see surrounding 
objects very clearly, he knew that the men were 
gazing at each other in something resembling alarm, 
and after a time one of them asked in a half-whis- 
per : 

" Do you know who we are ? ” 

“ You’re the men who burned the hovel, and tried 
to drive us away from Gray Ledge.” 

" An’ knowin’ all that, you had the nerve to come 
through this storm to lend us a hand ? ” 

"Of course. Somebody had to do it, and it was 
up to us. We brought you grub in our packs; your 
partner said you hadn’t any.” 

Greedily the men tore the frozen wrappings from 
the packs, and devoured rather than ate the bread. 
They laid slices of bacon on the top of the stove 
until they were slightly browned, and then the. hun- 
gry ones swallowed the hot fat without chewing it. 

Peter saw all this during twenty seconds or less, 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


301 


and then his eyes closed in slumber, nor was he con- 
scious of his surroundings until the timber thieves 
had satisfied their hunger. Then the lad realized 
that he and Jonas were covered with blankets and 
lying in one of the bunks, while those whom they 
had come to succor were seated near at hand watch- 
ing them eagerly. 

It don’t seem as if you were in much danger 
of freezing,” Peter muttered, feeling it incumbent 
upon him to say something if for no other purpose 
than to divert that intense, searching scrutiny. 

‘‘We had sense enough to chop wood this after- 
noon, though it seemed as if we would really freeze 
before getting what might be needed throughout 
the night. Are you feelin’ a bit better by this 
time ? ” 

“ I’m all right,” and Peter attempted to rise, but 
found any movement so painful that he sank back 
on the hard bed, stretching out his hand to make 
certain Jonas was by his side asleep. 

“ Better stay where you are a spell, my boy, for 
you’ve had a mighty hard time of it if you’ve 
walked from Gray Ledge in this storm. Do you 
feel like tellin’ us about our partner? Did he find 
the bosses? ” 

Scoutmaster Masterson was in no sense in the 
mood for story-telling; but it seemed necessary the 
strangers should know exactly the situation, and he 
explained how it was their comrade had been saved 


302 


BOY SCOUTS 


from death; what had been done in the case of the 
three who had attempted to get away from Seboois, 
and why it was the horses had not been found by 
him who claimed to be their owner. 

You say you came up here to help us, even 
though you knew we were the men who had roughed 
into you the best we knew how? Now that you are 
here, what do you reckon can be done ? ” 

“ You’ve got enough to keep you from starving 
during a full day, and I can’t see any other way 
than for you to come to Gray Ledge. It’s only ten 
miles away; we brought snow-shoes for you, and 
when the sun is shining it won’t be a very big job 
to walk that far.” 

An’ then what ? Can you promise that 
Richard Dobson won’t nab us ? ” 

‘‘ All Jonas and I have been trying to do is give 
you a chance to get away from here without dan- 
ger of going astray, when you’d be sure to freeze 
to death. You know what Mr. Dobson will do if 
he can, and it’s up to you to look out for him.” 

“What about your crowd of boys?” the ques- 
tioner continued, eyeing Peter sharply. “ I guess 
they’ll do all they can to land us where our partners 
are, eh ? ” 

“ The Boy Scouts will attend to their tie-cutting. 
They’ll give you shelter for a little while at Gray 
Ledge, although we’re crowded mighty snug since 
you burned the hovel, and won’t try to do Mr. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


303 


Dobson’s business for him. Of course you must 
get away as soon as it is possible to hit the trail; 
but you’ve nothing to fear from us.” 

“ I wish I knew jest why you took the chances 
of goin’ astray in the woods, an’ put up sich a hard 
fight to get here? ” the questioner said half to him- 
self, while his companion sat a short distance away 
staring at the stove as if fascinated by its vivid 
color. 

“ I’ve told you all that,” Peter cried in surprise. 

Your partner was afraid you’d try to make your 
way to Stillwater without snow-shoes, and you 
might as well have cut your own throats as to do 
anything of the kind in this weather.” 

But why did you two lads come here through 
the blizzard, when you knew we’d done all the mis- 
chief we could so far as you were concerned, an’ 
were likely to do more if we had a chance? ” 

‘‘ I tell you it was so you shouldn’t starve or 
freeze to death. We’re Boy Scouts, and it’s our 
business to help those who can’t help themselves.” 

‘‘ Do you expect us to pay you for all this? ” 

‘‘Of course we don’t. If it had only been a mat- 
ter of earning money, Jonas and I would be at 
Gray Ledge this very minute, instead of lying here 
nearly played out.” 

The man shook his head as if unable to under- 
stand, and his comrade, without raising his eyes, 
said slowly: 


304 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ It looks as if we’d struck a new breed. I never 
believed we’d come across men or boys who’d take 
sich chances as these fellows have taken, simply for 
the sake of helpin’ those who were in trouble. It 
strikes me we’ve got considerable to learn in this 
’ere world besides how to get away with timber 
that don’t belong to us.” 

Peter was beginning to believe that these men 
were uncommonly stupid if they could not under- 
stand when he spoke so plainly; but at the moment 
it seemed of little consequence; he was so sleepy 
that now, while he was comparatively warm, he 
could think of nothing that would be more pleas- 
ing than to join Jonas in the land of dreams. His 
eyes were already closing when he was aroused by 
the voice of the man who had been questioning 
him. 

Knowin’ that we burned the hovel in order to 
drive you away from Gray Ledge, and that we 
came on this section to steal Richard Dobson’s tim- 
ber, what would you advise us to do? ” 

‘‘ That’s what I can’t say,” the scoutmaster re- 
plied sleepily. “ It seems to me that part of it is 
up to you.” 

‘‘ Supposin’ you were in my place, what would 
you do? ” 

I’d have it out with Mr. Dobson the very first 
thing,” was the prompt reply. “ When a > fellow 
has gone wrong it’s best for him to take his medi- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


305 

cine and look pleasant about it; that much I found 
out quite a spell ago/’ 

‘‘ But if we gave Dobson the chance he’d stick 
us in jail.” 

I reckon he would.” 

An’ yet if you were in my shoes you’d let him 
go so far as all that? ” 

“I’d take my medicine,” Peter repeated dog- 
gedly. 

“ What good would that do you ? ” 

“ I’d feel a deal better about it. You see it would 
be squaring things as far as I could. Afterward 
I’d take mighty good care that no man ever had a 
chance to point his finger at me. Why look here. 
Mister, there’s more money to be gained as a lum- 
ber jack, than by stealing timber that you’d have 
hard work to get rid of! We boys at Gray Ledge 
will make better wages tie-cutting and minding our 
own business, than you would have made if your 
mates hadn’t been put in jail.” 

“ Suppose we two went back to Gray Ledge with 
you, as I reckon we’re bound to do so long as we’ve 
no means of gettin’ grub in here, would you give 
us a job at tie-cuttin’? ” 

“ We couldn’t do that,” Peter replied gravely. 
“ The cook and the teamster are the only men we 
can afiford to hire, for we risked considerable money 
when we tackled the contract.” 

“ Would you let us cut ties for our grub? ” 


3o6 


BOY SCOUTS 


‘‘ We’re willing to feed you till it’s possible for 
you to strike the trail.” 

Would you let us turn to with your gang while 
we were waitin’ there ? ” 

“ Yes, I reckon we’d be glad to fix it that way; 
but of course you wouldn’t stay a great while.” 

“ How long before you expect to see Dobson? ” 
‘‘ It isn’t likely he’ll come in while the traveling 
is so hard, and he may not come at all.” 

“ Look here, my son,” the man said after a short 
pause as he leaned over and stared into Peter’s 
face. What you’re most needin’ jest now is sleep ; 
me an’ my mate have had a feed, an’ we’ll cook 
some of the bacon, or make more coffee, if you’re 
wantin’ it before takin’ forty winks.” 

I’d rather sleep first,” Scoutmaster Masterson 
replied drowsily. 

All right, my lad, duff into it. If we haven’t 
got wood enough here to last out till mornin’, me 
or my mate will cut more. Take it as easy as you 
can, an’ bear in mind that while we ain’t the cream 
of society, you’re as safe in this camp as in your 
mothers’ arms. Now shut your eyes an’ leave the 
rest to us.” 

Peter was only too well pleased to follow this 
advice, and it was as if the man had no more than 
ceased speaking before his eyes were closed, not to 
be opened until the rays of the rising sun streamed 
in through the curtainless window. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 307 

The storm had died away ; the ground was 
covered with a blanket of snow which would not 
disappear until the warm winds of spring crept 
over it, and if he had been at Gray Ledge Peter 
Masterson would have said to himself that now 
was come the time when the Boy Scouts could 
make great headway in their task of cutting and 
yarding railway ties. 

Looking around the room the Scoutmaster saw 
that the men had been cooking the food he and 
Jonas had brought, and a pot of steaming coffee 
was on the stove inviting an attack. The adjutant 
was yet asleep ; but Peter, believing the time 
had come when they should be making ready for 
their return, awakened the lad, and as he did 
so both the strangers entered the camp bringing 
wood. 

‘‘Ready for breakfast, eh?’' one of them asked 
gruffly. “ When you’ve had your fill I reckon the 
last of the grub you brought here will have disap- 
peared, an’ it’s time to be hittin’ the trail, that is, 
if you’re to let me an’ my mate have the use of the 
snow-shoes you brought.” 

“We allowed that you wouldn’t be able to get 
out of the section unless you had ’em, and two of 
our Scouts will have to lie still till we get to Gray 
Ledge, for we didn’t have a spare pair in camp. 
Are you counting to take the chances of going to 
our cuttings ? ” 


3o8 


BOY SCOUTS 


“ That’s what we’ve made up our minds to do, 
seein’s how there’s a bit of a debt for us to pay. 
Eat your breakfast now, for the sooner we’re mov- 
in’ the more sure I’ll be of carry in’ through what 
we’ve decided on.” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


THE TIE-CUTTING CREW 

Peter was undecided and not a little disturbed by 
the remark of the man whom they had labored so 
hard to aid. It seemed to him much as if there was 
a threat in the words; that on arriving at Gray 
Ledge the three who had good cause to fear Richard 
Dobson’s wrath, might make a stand against the 
Scouts, and that a pitched battle would be the 
result. 

We’ll hold our own in some way,” he whispered 
to the adjutant when the timber thieves had left 
them alone in the camp during a few seconds. “ I 
didn’t allow when we took the contract that we’d 
got to spend the biggest part of the time fighting; 
but if these fellows are ready for mischief after 
you and I have tramped up here in as bad a storm 
as I ever saw, to save them from being hungry or 
cold, then I believe in giving ’em as good as they 
send.” 

Do you suppose they count on staying at Gray 
Ledge very long?” Jonas asked as if he also was 
troubled in mind. 


309 


310 


BOY SCOUTS 


It’ll be a case of hanging on till the snow is 
settled enough so they can get across the country 
to Stillwater, for it ain’t likely they’ll dare stick 
their noses in Seboois, even if that is the squarest 
thing they could do. I told the men last night, 
while you were asleep, that it would be better for 
them to take their medicine, and after that give 
over trying to steal timber, because they could make 
more money in any lumber camp, and earn it 
honestly; but they didn’t take very kindly to the 
idea.” 

“ I reckon Mr. Morse will strike the trail with- 
out stopping to talk, when he sees us come in with 
these fellows, and as for staying over night while 
they were in the same building with him, he’d die 
of fright.” 

That part of it isn’t troubling me, for it’ll be a 
big relief if he does go. I’m mighty tired of hear- 
ing him predict sudden death for all hands, and 
according to what Mr. Haley says, we sha’n’t have 
any bother about getting another teamster.” 

The return of the two men put an end to the 
conversation between the scoutmaster and his ad- 
jutant. The intruders had made ready for the long 
tramp, save for buckling on their snow-shoes, and 
seemed eager to be on the way. 

‘‘ It seems a bit tough for us to hurry you lads, 
’cause I reckon you’re stiffened up considerably; 
but I don’t claim to be the best that ever was on 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


311 

a tramp, an’ am kind’er anxious to get into your 
camp before dark,” one of the men said as he 
scattered the burning wood in the fire-place so there 
should be no danger the building might take fire 
by sparks after they had gone. ‘‘ Me an’ my mate 
have been talkin’ over what you boys did yester- 
day, an’ it doesn’t seem possible you could have 
kept to the trail in such a storm. It was blowin’ 
hard enough to take the hair off a man’s head.” 

‘‘ Toward the last end of the tramp I didn’t be- 
lieve we could get here, for we were mighty near 
played out,” Peter replied quietly. “ It was a case 
where we’d got to pull through after having 
started, and we did it.” 

“To help out a couple of duffers who would 
have driven you away from Gray Ledge,” the man 
muttered under his breath, addressing no one in 
particular, and Scoutmaster Masterson hoped most 
fervently that the fellow and his partners would 
have most vividly in mind what had been done in 
their behalf, when they were at the Scouts’ camp 
in a position to work mischief. 

The two boys had been making ready for the 
tramp all this while, and were now prepared for 
what, under the most favorable circumstances, 
would be a hard day’s work. Peter looked hur- 
riedly around to make certain everything had been 
left in something approaching an orderly condition, 
and then led the way to the platform, where all 


312 


BOY SCOUTS 


four tied on their snow-shoes. There were no packs 
to be carried over the trail this time, for the pro- 
visions the Scouts had brought in at the expense of 
so much labor, were consumed to the last tiny 
scrap, and the timber thieves could not cumber 
themselves with their poor apology for an outfit. 

We should be able to make good time, for the 
snow must have settled quite a bit since last night,” 
Jonas said as he led the way down the hill, Peter 
at his heels and the strangers bringing up the rear. 

“ Pm afraid you’ll have to let up now an’ then on 
our account,” one of the men suggested. We’re 
not in the best of shape for this kind of work, 
seein’s how we haven’t had much sleep since night 
before last. If you lads hadn’t brought that grub 
just when you did. I’m thinkin’ we’d been pretty 
near all in by this time. I’ve come to understand 
that it don't take a man long to freeze to death, if 
he doesn’t brace up strong at times.” 

It don’t really seem as if they could be count- 
ing on turning rough when we get to Gray Ledge, 
else there wouldn’t be so much said about what 
we’d done,” the scoutmaster thought, and from that 
moment he felt more comfortable in mind regard- 
ing the future. 

Before the first two miles had been traversed 
Jonas had been forced to come to a halt three times 
in order to allow the timber thieves a breathing 
spell, for they were not accustomed to wearing 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


313 


snow-shoes, even though they claimed to be woods- 
men, and made hard work of traveling, more par- 
ticularly where the tops of the bushes, showing 
above the surface, impeded the progress. 

Then Peter took the lead, determined that those 
whom they had rescued should move at a more 
rapid pace in order to arrive at Gray Ledge before 
dark. He no longer had any fear as to wandering 
from the trail, for the weather was as fine as it had 
been tempestuous the night before, and it was pos- 
sible to see the blaze distinctly. 

“ I reckon it’s coming kind’er tough on you,” he 
said cheerily as he gradually quickened the pace. 
‘‘ You’ll learn how to use the shoes after you’ve 
had two or three tumbles in the brush, and the 
sooner we strike Gray Ledge the sooner we’ll be 
sitting in front of a whole stack of Mr. Brown’s 
biscuit with plenty of bacon and coffee to help ’em 
along.” 

When the men asked for another breathing spell 
Master Masterson urged them to walk a short 
distance further before resting, reminding them 
that their limbs would grow stiff if they remained 
idle very long, and in every possible way did he 
encourage them to additional exertion. But for 
his efforts the tramp would have been prolonged 
until far into the night. As it was, however, they 
made fairly good progress until three o’clock in the 
afternoon, when Peter cried cheerily : 


314 


BOY SCOUTS 


Only about a mile more, and then we’ll be in- 
troduced to a smoking hot supper. It can’t be any 
too soon, for I’m getting mighty hungry, even 
though I did have a fairly good breakfast.” 

** It doesn’t seem as if I could keep on my feet 
five minutes longer,” the elder of the two men said 
despairingly, and then the scoutmaster gave voice 
to the speculations which had been in his mind from 
the beginning of the tramp : 

“ It strikes me you haven’t had very much of 
this kind of work, and I’m wondering how it hap- 
pened that you came in here to sneak off Mr. Dob- 
son’s timber, for that is harder work than square 
lumbering.” 

We’ve been the biggest sort of fools, Tim an’ 
me,” the elder stranger replied bitterly. “ Neither 
of us were ever in this kind of business, honest or 
dishonest. It’s the fellows who are in jail that per- 
suaded us there was big money to be made, an’ see- 
in’s we were down on our luck, we agreed to go 
with ’em. I reckon we’ve had a full dose, though. 
What about it, Tim?” 

‘‘ I’ve had my share all right, all right,” the man 
called Tim ” said grimly. “ After such a squeak 
as we’ve had there’ll be no more of the wilderness 
in mine. I’d rather starve to death in town than 
freeze in a place like this.” 

“ It would have been a tough job if you’d tried 
to get to Stillwater over an unbroken trail, for ten- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


315 


derfeet don’t show up very strong in holding a 
course through the woods, even when there’s no 
snow on the ground,” Jonas suggested, and Tim 
replied : 

Stillwater! We’d froze to death in that shack 
on the hill, but for you lads, ’cause we wouldn’t 
have dared to move till Bart got back.” 

Who’s Bart ? ” Peter asked. 

The chap you dragged into your camp night 
before last. He allowed that we’d jest got to have 
the bosses in order to leave the dam, an’ me an’ 
Bob never believed he’d be gone more’n an hour or 
so. When he failed to come back we decided that 
our one an’ only show was to wait for him. The 
grub was mighty low when he left, an’ after the 
weather began to grow colder we finished it, be- 
lievin’ he’d bring in more before we got very hun- 
gry. It seemed as if I could have eaten my moc- 
casins, an’ relished ’em, ’bout the time you showed 
up.” 

Peter encouraged the men to talk of themselves, 
for by so doing their minds were distracted in a 
certain measure from the exhausting labor of mak- 
ing their way through the light snow, and but one 
halt was made during the last mile of the long 
journey. 

The sun had set when the scoutmaster, his ad- 
jutant and the men they had rescued came into the 
clearing at Gray Ledge. The Boy Scouts were 


BOY SCOUTS 


316 

trooping in toward camp, rejoicing that another 
day’s work had come to a close, and Jabe Morse 
stood near the door of the lean-to unharnessing his 
horses. It was as charming and peaceful a winter 
scene in a lumber camp as one could wish to see, 
and Peter was anticipating a joyful greeting from 
his comrades when Mr. Morse, dropping the har- 
ness in the snow and raising both hands in a ges- 
ture of despair, cried or, rather, wailed : 

Strike for the trail, boys ! Jump to it or you’ll 
be too late, ’cause here come the pirates ! ” 

Can’t you shut that idiot’s mouth? ” Peter said 
hurriedly to his adjutant, and, fearing that the men 
had been wounded in mind, he said in a half-apol- 
ogetic tone, ‘‘ You mustn’t pay any attention to 
what he says. He’s our teamster, and has been 
afraid of his life ever since the hovel was burned.” 

“ He’ll come to know that we ain’t the worst 
kind of toughs, after we’ve been here a spell,” the 
man called ‘‘ Bob ” said as he stepped forward evi- 
dently intending to reassure Mr. Morse; but the 
teamster, heeding not the fact that his horses were 
free to wander at will, shrieked a warning to those 
Scouts who had not yet come into the clearing, and 
ran at full speed through the thicket. 

Quite naturally this uproar had been heard by Joe 
Brown, and he came out of the camp swiftly, run- 
ning up to the boys and clasping them by the hands 
as he said fervently: 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


317 


I sure am glad to see you lads back ! Last 
night I couldn’t sleep with thinking that perhaps 
you might have gone astray, and were wandering 
around slowly freezing to death! But say, Peter, 
do you count on keeping those men here ? ” 

What else can we do, Mr. Brown ? They are 
regular tenderfeet, and I don’t believe either of 
’em could hold the trail from here to Seboois in the 
summer time. They’ll have to stay until the road 
is broken out; but if Mr. Morse leaves us, as I 
reckon he will by the sound of that yell he let out, 
we may be able to send ’em away on his team.” 

There ain’t money enough this side of Penob- 
scot to tempt Jabe into traveling with those men. 
We’ll have to scrape along somehow, I suppose; 
but we must keep our eyes peeled all the time.” 

Now the other Scouts had crowded around the 
scoutmaster and the adjutant, welcoming them 
much as if they had come back from the grave, and 
no one gave further heed to the frightened teamster. 
Supper was ready; but Mr. Brown, believing that 
the guests who had been on short allowance so long 
would need an additional supply, set about prepar- 
ing more food, and while this was being done the 
newcomers had an interview with their comrade, 
the man who had been playing the part of invalid, 
and whom the others had spoken of as “ Bart.” 

Yes, he’s getting along all right,” Jerry Simp- 
son said in reply to Peter’s question as the Scouts 


BOY SCOUTS 


318 

remained outside the camp during the meeting be- 
tween the timber thieves. ‘‘Mr. Brown thought 
first off that his feet might have been frozen; but 
he changed his mind this morning. Say, he don’t 
seem to be such a hard customer as I allowed. He 
never saw this section of the country before, and 
I reckon that the fellows who are in jail dragged 
him and the two fellows you brought down, into 
the timber stealing business.” 

“ That seems to be about the size of it according 
to what the men told us while we were on the trail. 
We'll have an understanding with them in the 
morning,” Peter added when Fred Howe asked 
what the men intended to do in the near future. 
“ Come in, they've had plenty of chance to talk 
with their mate by this time,” and the scoutmaster 
led the way into the camp. 

Supper was ready; Mr. Brown had contrived to 
enlarge the table until it was possible for all the 
company to be seated around it, and the meal was 
begun with a generous display of appetite, when 
Jabe Morse appeared in the doorway. He looked 
around as if amazed at seeing the three timber 
thieves treated as guests, and then awkwardly made 
his way to his accustomed place, keeping his eyes 
fixed on the strangers. 

“ Going to pull out to-morrow morning, Jabe? ” 
Joe Brown asked laughingly, and the teamster re- 
plied emphatically as he heaped his plate high with 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


319 

baked beans, cutting for his own use a full third of 
a loaf of brown-bread : 

“ That’s what Tm countin’ to do, an’ you won’t 
see any snow meltin’ under my feet. I’d start this 
very minute if the trail had been broken; but it 
wouldn’t pay to try to get through while the snow’s 
so deep, unless a fellow had daylight for it. I’m 
allowin’ there are a good many places where I’ll 
have to use a shovel.” 

“If you are really going, perhaps some of these 
men would like a lift on your team,” Peter sug- 
gested, and Jabe ceased eating, his mouth full to 
overflowing with beans, as he stared like a fright- 
ened rabbit from one stranger to another. Then, 
swallowing the food with a mighty effort, he cried 
in dismay: 

“ It couldn’t be done no way ! While the goin’ 
is the same as now I’ll have to travel light, an’ — 
an’ — Well, it couldn’t be done.” 

“ You believe it wouldn’t be safe to trust yourself 
on the trail with three such desperate characters as 
we are ? ” the man Bob said questioningly with a 
faint smile. 

“ I — The snow — It couldn’t be done,” Jabe 
stammered, and then, despite his embarrassment and 
his fear, he made a yet more vigorous attack upon 
the beans. 

“ There’s no sense in our makin’ much talk ’bout 
how me an’ my mates are feelin’ since the two lads 


320 


BOY SCOUTS 


took most desperate chances to help us out. We 
ain't quite such heathen as you’ve got the right to 
believe, an’ we’re ready to dance to whatever tune 
Mr. Dobson chooses to fiddle, although I won’t go 
so far as to say we’ll hunt him up so’s he can jump 
on us. Last night Tim an’ I agreed, an’ Bart has 
jest allowed he’s willin’ to follow our lead, that 
we’d try to square things with you boys so far as 
we could. If the owner of this land sends in con- 
stables for us before we’ve done our full share, 
there may be some other way of payin’ the score. 
We want to take hold an’ do our full share of tie- 
cuttin’, for it’s the only way we can show how we’re 
feelin’ because of what two of you lads did for us.” 

Bob means that we want to work for our grub 
till you’ve finished your contract,” Bart, the invalid, 
added. What the three of us can do between now 
and spring ought’er help you lads out a good bit; 
but. we ain’t reckonin’ that it’ll pay as much as we 
owe. Take it all in all, we can set it down that 
you have saved our lives — I know you did mine, — 
an’ perhaps they ain’t worth much; but we’re set- 
tin’ quite a big price on ’em.” 

If we had any money we’d be glad to give up 
every cent,” Tim said earnestly. “ But we’re the 
same as broke. You shall have a chance to see, if 
so be you’re willin’, that we’re able to do a good 
bit of work, or will after we’re trained to it, an’ 
it’ll please me way down to the ground if we get 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


321 


the job. Of course you’ll have to feed us; but that 
won’t be such a very big drain providin’ we make 
good at tie-cuttin’.” 

The Boy Scouts were literally amazed by the 
proposition, and gazed in what was very like be- 
wilderment at the apparently repentant timber 
thieves. Jabe, however, was neither soothed nor 
touched by the evidence of friendly feelings as dis- 
played by the men who had so lately been their 
most bitter enemies, and since no one made reply to 
the offer of assistance, he took it upon himself to 
thwart any such plan. 

“ It wouldn’t do at all,” he said decidedly. 

There ain’t room in this ’ere camp for so many. 
We’re crowded now till a fellow has to go outside 
to draw a long breath, an’, besides — Well, it 
won’t do for a little minute ! ” 

‘‘If you’re going to strike the trail early to-mor- 
row morning, what difference can it make to you 
if we are a little cramped for room?” Joe Brown 
asked sharply. 

“ It might be I couldn’t get away quite on time, 
an’ I wouldn’t be willin’ to stop even five minutes 
if ” 

“If we three were allowed to stay here,” Bob 
said, finishing the remark as the teamster hesi- 
tated. “ Don’t you believe it would be a good idea, 
that is if the labor of three men can be of value to 
these lads, to try us out before sayin’ it couldn’t be 


322 


BOY SCOUTS 


done? We’re not beggin’ to stay simply that we 
may be fed ; but so’s we can come somewhere near 
squarin’ up for what’s been done by two of your 
crowd.” 

“ It isn’t for Jabe to say whether you shall stay,” 
Joe Brown interrupted. “ He is a hired man in 
this crew, same as I am, and what’s more, he has 
discharged himself. Peter Masterson is the scout- 
master; he it is who made the contract, so I allow 
the matter is up to him.” 

“ Don’t I have anythin’ to say about stayin’ here 
if things ain’t goin’ to please me?” Jabe asked 
angrily. 

You’ve decided to pull out at sunrise, and I 
reckon you can squeeze through one night even 
if you can’t spread yourself all over the camp. 
What do you say, Peter ? ” and the cook turned to 
the scoutmaster. 

“ For my part I think it would be a mighty good 
thing for us Scouts if these men insisted on lending 
a hand; but of course it’s for the whole crowd to 
settle the question.” 

‘‘ What do you say, boys ? ” and Bob looked 
around at the Scouts as if exceedingly anxious to be 
allowed to pay the debt of gratitude by hard labor. 

One by one the lads gave willing assent to the 
proposition, which was all in their favor, and thus 
it was that the tie-cutting crew at Gray Ledge was 
suddenly and largely increased. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


A PROSPEROUS SEASON 

On that same evening, when the Scouts gathered 
outside the camp to discuss the change in the situa- 
tion, it was agreed that these amateur timber thieves 
might prove to be a valuable addition to the tie- 
cutting crew. The men appeared so eager to do 
something by way of showing their gratitude for 
what had been done in their behalf, that no one, 
with the exception of Jabe Morse, believed they 
would try to work further mischief. 

“Of course we can’t afford to pay them wages; 
but if they’re willing to stay here and work for 
their board, it’ll be a big thing for us,” Peter said as 
the meeting was brought to an untimely close owing 
to the excessively cold weather, and his comrades 
were of the same opinion. 

That night the occupants of the camp were con- 
siderably crowded because of lacking space in the 
bunk; but Bob proposed that they build another 
lean-to, where he and his mates could sleep, and it 
was believed that within a very short time matters 
might be so arranged that the crew would not be 
323 


BOY SCOUTS 


324 

inconvenienced because of the addition to their 
numbers. 

When morning came Mr. Morse, who had so far 
succeeded in calming his fears as to remain in the 
camp with the amateur thieves, gave no token of 
pulling out for Seboois. He set about his work of 
breaking roads to the different places where the 
ties had been stacked, and Peter gave positive 
orders that no one speak to him of his intention to 
“ jack the job.” 

‘‘ It would be wasting one whole day — perhaps 
two, to get another teamster, and Mr. Morse does 
a full day’s work, no matter how much of a coward 
he may be,” the scoutmaster said in explanation of 
the command for the Scouts to give no heed to 
Jabe’s resignation. 

The three men, for Bart had fully recovered from 
the weakness caused by exposure, set about tie- 
cutting with a will when the Scouts began the day’s 
work. Jonas was detailed to instruct them in their 
duties, and at nightfall he reported to the scout- 
master : 

‘‘ Those fellows may be green at such work ; but 
they have certainly put in big licks since morning. 
It seems as if they couldn’t do enough to please 
themselves, and if one of the others stops for a min- 
ute to wipe his face, that man Bob yells for him to 
stick at his job.” 

Before three days had passed every Scout in the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 325 

camp was of Jonas’s opinion. The weather had con- 
tinued pleasant ; Mr. Morse had recovered from his 
fears sufficiently to trust his precious body within 
speaking distance of the repentant thieves, and Joe 
Brown told Peter confidentially that the men could 
‘‘ work all around ” any other five in the company. 
By utilizing the time before breakfast and after 
supper, the fellows who were struggling so hard to 
pay the debt they owed, had built a lean-to at the 
back of the camp, in which they slept the third 
night, although both the scoutmaster and the cook 
had insisted that there was no good reason why 
they should leave the main building. 

When the first Sunday after their arrival came 
around. Bob asked Peter to take a walk with him a 
short distance up the Seboois trail, and when they 
were at such a distance from the camp that there 
was no possibility the conversation could be over- 
heard, the man put the question squarely as to 
whether it would be well for them to seek Richard 
Dobson and take such punishment as he might mete 
out. 

“ All three of us would like to stay here till you 
finish the contract, for it looks as if we might be 
helpin’ along quite a bit ; but we’ve got to go out at 
some time, and the question is whether you think 
we’d better leave now ? ” 

‘‘ You sure are helping us Scouts in great shape; 
but I don’t want you to think that I’d say hold on 


BOY SCOUTS 


326 

here just because we’d like to have the work done. 
I can’t see any good reason why you should go to 
Penobscot, or even Seboois yet awhile. Mr. Haley 
will come in soon, most likely, and he can tell 
Mr. Dobson where you are.” 

The scoutmaster’s advice was followed, and dur- 
ing the ensuing week the new members of the tie- 
cutting crew worked to the best of their ability, 
until even Jabe Morse was forced to confess that 
they were of great assistance, and then came that 
interruption which threatened to make a change in 
affairs at Gray Ledge. 

Shortly after dinner on one certain day Peter, 
who had come up to the camp in order to sharpen 
his ax, was surprised at seeing on the Seboois 
trail a box-like sleigh in which were Mr. Dobson 
and Jim Haley. Just for a moment he was tempted 
to warn the amateur timber thieves that the owner 
of the sections had arrived, to the end that, if they 
were so disposed, it would be possible for them to 
escape, and then he decided to hold his peace. 

It isn’t for me to interfere, even if the fellows 
have been doing us such a good turn, and perhaps 
it is as well they should have the trouble over with 
now, though I’ll be mighty sorry to lose ’em,” he 
said to himself; and then Jim Haley reined in his 
horses with a flourish, shouting greetings to Peter 
and Joe Brown, the latter having been attracted to 
the door of the camp by the jingle of bells. 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


327 

Mr. Dobson climbed out of the rude sleigh as if 
his limbs had been stiffened by being confined in 
such a narrow space, saying to Peter as he did so : 

‘‘ Since when have you hired a force of men to 
help out on this contract? I thought the under- 
standing was that you Scouts were to do the work 
alone? I could have put a crew of lumber jacks in 
here myself, and saved considerable money.” 

How did you know we had any men here, 
sir?” the scoutmaster asked timidly. 

We passed three a short distance up the trail, 
and they seemed to know how to cut ties.” 

Peter gave one quick glance at Joe Brown, and 
then mentally bracing himself for a storm of dis- 
pleasure, he said firmly: 

Those are some of the fellows who burned the 
hovel, sir. They were starving as well as freezing 
up at the dam, and we brought them down here. 
I don’t believe you should ” 

“ So you’ve undertaken to harbor timber thieves 
who did all they could to injure me, and made it 
rather lively, judging from what I’ve heard, for 
you, eh? What are you doing, Peter Masterson? 
Running my business according to agreement, or 
shielding a lot of scoundrels who should be doing 
time in jail?” 

‘‘ We’ve been attending to your business, Mr. 
Dobson, as you can see by looking around, and if 
you’ll wait to hear all the story you’ll agree that we 


BOY SCOUTS 


328 

haven’t done anything really against your interests,” 
Peter began, and just then Joe Brown interfered 
by saying : 

I wish you’d come inside, Mr. Dobson, and let 
me tell the yarn. Peter won’t give you more’n half, 
and it’s needing to be put in plain words.” 

The lumber operator looked at the lad an instant 
as if in anger and then accepted the cook’s invita- 
tion by entering the camp, while Scoutmaster Mas- 
terson lent Jim Haley a hand in unharnessing the 
horses. 

“Got yourself into a scrape, have you, Peter?” 
the boarding-house keeper asked laughingly. “ Do 
you know I had a suspicion you’d stuck a finger 
into the timber thieves’ pie, because they didn’t 
come down from the dam ” 

“If Mr. Dobson didn’t want the men to stay on 
his sections, why couldn’t he have sent after them, 
and then Jonas and I wouldn’t have had the hard- 
est kind of a hard tramp helping the gang?” 

Quite naturally this remark caused Mr. Haley to 
ask several questions, and the scoutmaster could do 
no less than reply to them truthfully, until the whole 
story had been told, except that Peter took good 
care not to make his part in the rescue very promi- 
nent. 

By the time Jim Haley’s curiosity had been grati- 
fied Joe Brown called for the lad to come into camp 
where Mr. Dobson could speak with him, and the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


329 


lad said ruefully as he turned to obey the summons : 

“ I reckon PH catch it hot now ; but I don’t care 
very much if he does rave, for we haven’t done any- 
thing so very wrong.” 

“ I allow the boss won’t eat you without first 
buttonin’ your ears back,” Jim Haley said with a 
grin which did not serve to strengthen the scout- 
master’s courage as he walked quickly away to re- 
ceive the anticipated tongue-lashing. 

So you’ve taken it upon yourself to play the 
nurse to a crowd of timber thieves, have you, Peter 
Masterson? ” Mr. Dobson began fiercely as soon as 
the lad entered the camp. Think you know more 
about handling such cattle than I do, eh ? ” 

haven’t been nursing anybody, sir,” was the 
timid reply. “ The men would have frozen or 
starved if we hadn’t brought ’em down from the 
dam, and they were willing to go straight to you 
and take whatever punishment you wanted to deal 
out; but I advised them to wait awhile.” 

What business had you to risk your life and 
Jonas’s for that kind of men? I hired you to cut 
ties, not to run all over the country in a blizzard 
hunting up starving loafers ! ” 

** The Boy Scouts came in here on a contract, 
sir, and it wasn’t doing any wrong to you if a 
couple of them knocked off work for a day,” Peter 
said firmly yet respectfully. He was quite con- 
vinced in his own mind that all business relations 


330 


BOY SCOUTS 


with Richard Dobson would come to an end at 
the close of the day; but he intended that there 
should not be a charge made against the fair-deal- 
ing of the Scouts without a vigorous protest from 
him. 

‘'You knew I wanted the ties cut, and that I 
wouldn’t have sent you in unless I had supposed 
you’d stick to the job,” the lumber operator con- 
tinued as if striving to work himself into a rage. 

“We couldn’t have done any work on the day 
Jonas and I went up to the dam, sir, and ” 

“ What about the next day, after the storm 
cleared away ? ” 

“ Then the biggest part of the work was break- 
ing roads, and there were so many boys here that 
it didn’t make any difference where Jonas and I 
were. Since then the men have cut ties enough to 
make up a hundred times over for what we may 
have done.” 

“ You’ve been feeding them with my provisions.” 

“ You’re expecting us to pay for all we brought 
in, and we’ve already cut ties to more than square 
the account, so the provisions belong to us instead 
of you, sir.” 

“ And what do you intend to do with your tame 
thieves now, Peter Masterson?” 

“ I’d like to have them stay right here as long 
as they please; but I suppose you’ll put ’em in 
jail. They’re willing to go there, too, so you won’t 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


331 

have any trouble in taking them out of these cut- 
tings.” 

‘‘We won't keep up this foolishness any longer, 
Peter, for you don’t quite deserve that I should 
make you believe even for a minute that I’m not 
considerably proud of you,” and much to the scout- 
master’s surprise the lumber operator changed on 
the instant from an enemy to the most friendly of 
friends. “ I’m willing to admit that I shouldn’t 
have handled the matter as well as you did. I’ve 
said ever since last summer that there’s a good bit 
of a man in you, and what’s been going on here at 
Gray Ledge hasn’t caused me to change my opin- 
ion. How are you getting on with the work?” 

Scoutmaster Masterson was too thoroughly be- 
wildered by the change in his employer’s manner to 
be able to answer the question intelligently. As a 
matter of fact he could not come down to tie-cut- 
ting just at that moment, and instead of showing 
Mr. Dobson what had been done, by taking him 
to the different points where the Scouts were at 
work, he asked anxiously: 

“ What are you going to do with the men, sir ? 
They never tried to steal timber before, and I’m 
certain they’ll act differently after the lesson they 
got at the dam.” 

“ It seems that the dam is a great place for the 
teaching of common sense, eh, Peter? ” the operator 
said in a meaning tone, and the scoutmaster’s 


332 


BOY SCOUTS 


weather-beaten face flushed deeply, for he himself 
had received a lesson at the dam which he would 
never forget. 

But about the men, sir ? ” Peter stammered. 

“ I reckon I can afford to let you take charge of 
them, my boy, for you’ve succeeded pretty well so 
far. Besides, it wouldn’t be just the thing for me 
to break up your crew when a good share of the 
profit made goes into my own pocket.” 

‘‘And you’re not going to send them to jail?” 
the scoutmaster cried joyfully, his face lighting up 
wondrously. 

“If you believe they’ve squared matters, or will 
have done so when the season is ended, I’m satis- 
fied. It wouldn’t surprise me if you’d get along 
fairly well with a full crew of lumber jacks, Peter 
Masterson, and that’s saying a good deal. Now let 
me see how the work is going.” 

It seemed to the scoutmaster almost as if he was 
walking on air when he led Mr. Dobson from point 
to point, and heard him praise the Scouts because 
of what had been done. It was not Richard Dob- 
son’s custom to spend very much of his breath in 
words of commendation, and when he did so in- 
dulge it was something for those who heard him to 
remember. 

“ Your Boy Scouts will make well to a thousand 
dollars over and above all expenses, even if you pay 
Joe Brown full wages,” Mr. Dobson said when the 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


333 


inspection had come to an end. ‘‘Of course a 
crew of men experienced in such work could have 
done more ; but not any better. Pm so well satisfied, 
Peter, that if we can agree as to wages Pm going 
to give you charge of all operations here at Gray 
Ledge next year, you to map out the work; and I 
really believe you can do it. I predicted that we 
could make a lumber operator out of you, and 
we’ve come precious near doing it already. When 
the thieves began to cut up rough out here I was 
afraid you might disappoint me. I ought to have 
sent officers in when I first heard what was going 
on; but I made up my mind to learn whether you 
could paddle your own canoe.” 

“ Do you think I paddled it, sir? ” 

“ Indeed you did, Peter Masterson, and what’s 
more, you helped others paddle theirs, which is 
why Pm going to put you in charge of all these 
sections, giving you a free hand while I furnish 
the capital, and you share in the profits.” 

It would be entertaining reading if one could set 
down in words exactly what was in the scoutmas- 
ter’s mind at this moment; but to do so would be 
impossible. As he told Jonas that night after they 
had crawled into the bunk, “ It was all he could do 
to keep his feet on the ground,” while Mr. Dobson 
was speaking. 

The lumber operator and the boarding-house 
keeper drove back over the trail that same night, 


334 


BOY SCOUTS 


first because the sleeping quarters in the small camp 
were limited, and secondly owing to the fact that 
the moon was so bright that the way could be seen 
almost as clearly as at noonday. 

Before the owner of the sections took his de- 
parture, however, the three men had a long con- 
versation with him. What was said at that inter- 
view none of the Scouts ever knew; but Joe Brown 
declared that he heard Mr. Dobson tell the amateur 
thieves that he washed his hands of them, at the 
same time adding, Peter Masterson is in charge of 
my property here, and what he says goes with me 
every time.” 

There is no good reason why any attempt should 
be made to follow the Boy Scouts of Penobscot in 
all their work during the remainder of the season, 
for there would be an unpleasant sameness to the 
tale. 

The weather was unusually favorable for lumber- 
ing operations; the three additional members of the 
crew worked quite as industriously as they had be- 
gun, and when the final accounting was made at Jim 
Haley’s boarding-house, the Boy Scouts had six- 
teen hundred and seventy-one dollars as the pro- 
ceeds of the winter’s work, with their original capi- 
tal unimpaired. 

Those timber thieves who had been lodged in jail 
served their sentences and disappeared from Pen- 


IN A LUMBER CAMP 


335 


obscot before the Scouts came out from Gray 
Ledge; but the three who owed so much to Peter 
and his comrades decided to remain in Seboois 
when Jim Haley offered them employment during 
the summer at fair wages. This they did, how- 
ever, with the distinct understanding that if Peter 
Masterson was willing to hire them when the next 
season's work was begun, they should be at liberty 
to engage with him. 

Yes, Peter is quite a lad, an’ then some,” Jabe 
Morse said with a grin when he was questioned by 
his friends in Penobscot concerning the scoutmas- 
ter. ‘‘If he wouldn’t be so venturesome he’d have 
the makin’s of a man in him. Why, if I hadn’t 
kept both eyes open day an’ night from the time 
we went in to Gray Ledge till we came out, he’d let 
us all be murdered a dozen times over. Yes, I 
pulled him through, an’ the funny part of it is that 
Richard Dobson has given the boy all the credit, 
with never so much as a ‘ thank you ’ to me.” 



•V ► 41 









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IMBBi 







CROWELL’S BOY SCOUT SERIES 


BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS 

By James Otis. Illustrated by Charles Copeland. 

BOY SCOUTS IN A LUMBER CAMP 

By James Otis. Illustrated by Charles Copeland. 

ALONG THE MOHAWK TRAIL; Or, Boy Scouts on 
Lake Champlain 

By Percy K. Fitzhugh. Illustrated by Reming- 
ton Schuyler. 

FOR UNCLE SAM, BOSS ; Or, Boy Scouts at Panama 
By Percy K. Fitzhugh. Four illustrations. 

PLUCK ON THE LONG TRAIL ; Or, Boy Scouts in 
the Rockies 

By Edwin L. Sabin. Illustrated by Clarence 
Rowe. 

EACH VOLUME, 12mo, CLOTH, $1.25 POSTPAID 


A fine series of wholesome, realistic, and 
entertaining stories for boys by juvenile 
writers of recognized standing, who have 
a thorough knowledge of Boy Scouts and of 
real scouting in the sections of the country 
in which the scenes of their books are laid 


THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 

NEW YORK 


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